Monday, December 1, 2025

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we, too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Romans 6: 4 reminds us that we will be raised from the dead through the glory of the Father. But what does that mean in everyday terms? I believe that these words represent not just the end of our lives, but the manifestation of something beautiful in our souls to nurture in the present. 

For me, Rosemary Trommer expresses this well in a poem she wrote called “Little Explorer”; here it is:

To walk in the woods is a kind of prayer.

Come in on quiet feet and feel how you are not alone.

The golden trees are full of eyes. What are those sounds you cannot name?

Whatever is untamed inside you sings along.

Dwarfed by awe, you might feel small, but the song says, You are all.

God of heaven and earth, we give thanks for the resurrection of Jesus, and for the new life you’ve given us. May the untamed spirit inside us sing along, reminding us that we are your beloved - we are all. Amen.

Sylvia Havlish is grief counselor for Lutheran Congregational Services, and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Emmaus

Sunday, November 30, 2025

That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  John 17:21

In Chapter 17 of the book of John, Jesus calls for unity and protection for all present and future believers. 

This first reflection here, in a way, serves as an editor’s note. 

In the devotions that follow you’ll find voices of lay people, pastors, executives, counselors, and Reverend Doctors; all of us probably consider ourselves just regular people. Some of us write for a living, others of us find the act of writing a spiritual reflection way out of our comfort zones. A wide variety of traditions are represented here too – Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and more. 

It is my prayer that as together we read through these devotions this Advent, that we will see each other as children of the same heavenly father, and each one of us a unique expression of our Creator. 

You may also notice that in some cases there is more than one reflection on the same Bible passage! This was not necessarily by design but personally I really like to read the ways different writers point us to different insights.

Loving Creator, Emmanuel, you are with us always. Give us the faith and awareness of your presence, especially in the moments when we find ourselves most fraught. Bless all who contributed and all who will read these sincere reflections in the coming weeks in our journey to Christmas. Amen

Julia Frank is Director of Community Outreach, Liberty Lutheran and Lutheran Congregational Services

Christmas Day, December 25, 2024

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.

Luke 1: 41-42

 

As a woman, it is not lost on me how frightened Mary may have been given her dire situation. An unwed, pregnant woman in her time would not only face hate and scorn but would also risk being stoned to death under the law.

 

I imagine that Mary sought out her older, wiser cousin, Elizabeth, because she too had experienced a miraculous blessing from God. Elizabeth, who had been childless and was beyond childbearing years, was now six months pregnant—seemingly defying nature. Surely, Elizabeth could relate to Mary’s extraordinary circumstances.

 

When Mary arrives, the Spirit of God moves Elizabeth to extend the love and grace Mary desperately needs in that moment. Her warm welcome and kind words reassure Mary that she and her unborn child are indeed blessed by God.

 

On this day, we celebrate the birth of Mary’s baby—Jesus—who dramatically changed and continues to change the world. His ministry revealed to us that God desires to bless everyone with love, grace, and mercy.

 

The pastor at my church recently emphasized that God will work through whoever God chooses to accomplish God’s will. In that moment, it dawned on me that in Luke 1:41-42, we witness how God worked through Elizabeth to give Mary the reassurance she needed.

 

On this Christmas Day, may God’s Word remind us that the Holy Spirit is ever-present with us, waiting to work through us. May we, too, be vessels to bless others in whatever way God desires.

 

Loving God, as we celebrate the birth of your son today, may we feel your presence and hear your call. Grant us the wisdom and courage of Christ to humbly bless others with your abundant love, grace and mercy. We give you thanks, Immanuel, for showing us the way. Amen.

 

Patty Cline is Director of Advancement at Liberty Lutheran.

Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.

Romans 8:19

 

Paul’s epistle to the Romans reminds us how much of our lives we spend waiting. It seems these days we are all waiting for something, or for someone. It could be something as seemingly small as being put on hold on the phone or standing in long lines at the grocery store. It could be that we’re waiting to improve a skill, for a friend to visit, or even to become a better person.

 

At times, we may strive for perfection, getting caught in a web of self- doubt and feeling that we are lacking in some way. Yet, this passage

in Romans reminds us that we are already God’s own, created in God’s image. And though we may fall short, disappointing ourselves and others, we are still God’s children. We are the beloved whom God loves so much that God gave God’s only son for the forgiveness of our sins.

 

Advent is itself a time of waiting. We light the candles each week, and we wait in community to hear the gospel proclamation of Jesus’ birth. When we gather, we do so in hope of what is to come. Indeed, the entire creation waits in eager anticipation of the glory of God.

 

This verse calls us to focus on the bright future that awaits us in God’s loving embrace. What we wait for, long for, along with all of creation, is nothing compared to what God has already prepared for us to share in, the gift of eternal life.

 

Along with all of creation, we eagerly await the birth of Jesus. The hope this brings fills us with God’s grace and inspires us to be better stewards of God’s creation as beloved children of God. And just as we wait, God waits with us, in times of sorrow and in joy, in eager anticipation of what is to come.

 

Let us pray. Lord, be with us as we prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus’ arrival. Help us to nourish the earth as good stewards of your creation, just as you feed us daily. Fill us with your grace, so that we might share your love with our neighbors. Your love is ever-present; always doing something new for us, within us, and with us. Amen.

 

Rachel Zimmermann is Disaster Case Manager for Hurricane Ida. Her home church is St. John’s Lutheran in Phoenixville.

Monday, December 23, 2024

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

 

In the early 90s, my life felt like it was spiraling out of control. I was struggling to manage everything, from my personal life to bills, and it felt like I was constantly being overwhelmed.

As someone with a choleric temperament, I thrive on being in control and having everything in order. The chaos and lack of control during that time were incredibly challenging for me. However, that period of turmoil taught me valuable lessons that have had a profound impact on my life.

First and foremost, I learned to place my trust in God and not to rely on my own abilities. This newfound reliance on God became a cornerstone of my Christian journey, and I found strength in looking to Jesus Christ as the embodiment of the invisible God. This experience fundamentally shaped my perspective and approach to life.

In the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul articulates a profound revelation about God that has deeply impacted my perception and strengthened my reliance on Him. He eloquently portrays Jesus Christ as the visible representation of the invisible God.

Through my faith in Christ, I have gained a clearer understanding of God’s divine nature and His boundless capabilities. This revelation has brought me immense comfort and reassurance, especially during times of personal struggle and moments of feeling overwhelmed.

I have come to recognize that God, once invisible to me, is now perceptible through His son, Jesus Christ. As a result, my faith has been fortified, and I am continually reminded that what was previously unknown about God has been graciously unveiled to us through His word.

Dear Father, I thank you for revealing yourself to me through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. This understanding is the foundation of my faith and gives me strength, despite the challenges I may face. Please bless my day today and help me to take each day as it comes. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

Vernon Nyangulu is Disaster Recovery Case Manager, Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Sunday, December 22, 2024

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:10

 

The Gospel of John tells us that the last words of Jesus were “It is  finished”. God’s judgment and punishment of sin was finished upon Jesus’ death on the cross—once for all!

 

Prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus, atonement for sin was made by offering animal sacrifices. But, once Jesus died and rose to life again, no longer was sacrifice required to gain forgiveness from our merciful Father.

 

What greater gift is there than the son of God’s death on the cross? How can we possibly repay God for such a gift? We cannot.

 

No sacrifice, no works, no donations, no deeds--nothing can repay the precious gift we have been given in Jesus’ death and resurrection. But, in response to such a gift and showing of love and mercy from God, we can offer ourselves to the works of God.

 

The giving of our time to others in love, leading others to the truth of God’s Holy Word, giving to those in need, spending time with the lonely, helping others in their earthly walk---these things reflect the gratefulness we have to God for His mercy and love. What greater gift can we offer to someone than eternal life?

 

This Christmas season, let’s make a point of sharing the news of the gospel with others so that they too can look forward to eternal life with Christ, knowing He gained forgiveness of sin once for all!

 

Merciful God: There is no way to thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, and the forgiveness of our sin. We humbly offer our daily prayers and works in thanksgiving to you for mercy and love. Help us to be your hands and feet to the people around us and beyond, so that they can know the truth of your word and live out eternity giving glory to you in heaven. Amen.

 

Christine Naessens is Staff Recruiter, Liberty Lutheran.

Saturday, December 21, 2024

…and he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed for he will be highly honored around the world.

Micah 5:4

 

When I think of Micah, it reminds me of how much God loves us. Although the people were in exile because of things they were doing wrong, God made a way to redeem them by setting them on their own land so they could be free to serve him and no other god. Micah’s mission was to instruct them to get rid of the pagan worship and to worship the one and only true God.

 

We put things before God and sometimes don’t notice it (i.e. social media) that’s a big thing that will take you down the rabbit hole and before you know anything, several hours have passed you by and you would not have accomplished anything.

 

God desires to have a relationship with us. God told Micah to warn the Israelites to let go of the Asherah poles, (social media) and all other idols they may be holding onto. He gave simple instructions on what it would take to follow him and do what is good:

 

Do justice, be fair to everyone, not just to those we love.

Love mercy, have passion and forgiveness to those you have the power to punish.

Walk humbly with God, seek God daily and he will speak to you, he will give you instructions on what to say and do in every situation.

 

The same rules of instruction stand for us today. He redeemed us with the blood of his son, Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son and whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16) It is up to us to make the decision to believe.

 

Most gracious and loving god, we come to you today asking that as we seek to do your will daily that you will draw near to us and help us to be all that you want us to be. We want to be pleasing to you in all that we do and say. Thank you for your love, grace and mercy you show us even when we do not deserve it. We want to live a life that is pleasing to you so we ask for your help. Thank you that you hear our prayers when we call to you. In Jesus name, Amen

 

Areatha Dorsey is Center Counselor at LCFS’ West Philadelphia Senior Community Center.