DH Weekly 2, Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Midweek Contemplation (Isaiah 40:1)

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.

If you are wondering where our Scripture passages come for us to read on Sundays, it is quite simple. We follow Common Lectionary or readings of Scripture passages picked by people of many different Christian denominations/groups to use on Sundays. We are now on Year B of this reading list. For this coming Sunday, the readings are: Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a and Mark 1:1-8.

One reason we make an effort to use the Common Lectionary is to cover the Bible in three years with passages from all parts of the Bible. This method of going through the Bible helps ministers, preachers and pastors to learn from all parts of the Bible because everyone has a tendency to stick with passages we like and use the ones we want most of the time.

Also as part of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, we cherish and celebrate many traditions together. Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost and Thanksgiving are the main highlights of any Christian year. It is true that some people fight over whether these celebrations are truly Christian or Christians have taken over secular seasonal celebrations of people in various countries. For us it is more important to remember that each of these days are selected to help us remember God’s grace.

Of course, as people, some of us put more emphasis on Easter while others think Christmas ought to have equal importance to Easter. What we should not forget is that both holy days are set apart to give God thanks and praise as we enjoy God’s grace that recreates us as God’s people following the teachings of Jesus. Many other days like Pentecost and Thanksgiving are often not seen as important as those celebrations surrounding Christmas and Easter.

Advent and Christmas along with Lent and Easter with the Holy Week prior to Easter are reminders for us. This is why Isaiah 40, for example, are read in Advent as the reasons for the coming of Jesus as the Son of God, bringing new life to those who believe in him.

The prophet cries, “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.” It is God shouting out for God’s own people who suffer in the world. Every time we hear this cry of the prophet, we remember that God responded to the people who were suffering. By extension, we still hear God crying out to us with the word of comfort.

Just imagine! We pray in silence. We pray silently to God. We pray in ways that no one hears our cries to God. We bring all our suffering in ways no one other than God hears. What happens when there is no response from God? How dark would our world be if we suddenly realize that all the prayers that contained our suffering went unheard. How devastating will we be when our cries of hearts go unheard!

This shout from God is the resounding response to our silent prayers. God tells those who suffered and are suffering that their cries have reached God’s ear. Their prayers were heard. They are being affirmed, recognized and are now responded to. The season of Advent is the time for us to remember that people’s suffering and their cries were heard. God who created them now responds. This is God’s grace we remember and wait for. These words become flesh among us through the coming of Jesus amidst us. What a message!

Friday afternoon at 2 pm

We are beginning a new way of figuring out what it means to be part of the living body of Christ. Friday afternoon is a small segment of what a new communion might look like. Under the leadership of Jedida, Kenneth and Patrick we are discerning the way God is establishing us as part of the living body of Christ. Come and join us! Be part of this new experience in faith, hope and love.

Baking and Fun for children 1:30 pm

This Saturday, December 9 is the last Saturday we will be baking cookies with children. We will take a break from baking after this coming Saturday. Please bring children out so that we can share the joy of being together as children of God in Christ.

Watercolour Drawing

After this Saturday, December 9th, we will also pause this drawing time on Saturday afternoons to give Bob a bit of a break during the Christmas season. Please come out and enjoy making watercolour pictures this Saturday.

We will be announcing other programs for the Christmas Season on Sunday.

December Activities

Sunday, December 10 at 10:30 am
2nd Sunday of Advent – Christmas Tree Decoration Sunday

Saturday, December 16 at 5:30 pm – Christmas Turkey Dinner Cost: $25/person

Sunday, December 17 at 10 – 3d Sunday of Advent
Christmas Carols Sunday

Sunday, December 17 in the afternoon Christmas Carols Singalong
Will also celebrate birthdays in December

Sunday, December 24 at 10:30 am – Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 24 at 8 pm – Christmas Eve Evening Service

Sunday, December 25 at 11 am – Christmas Service with lunch

Sunday, December 31 at 10:30 am – New Year’s Service