Consider the Word, December 16, 2021

Consider the Word, December 16, 2021
Advent IV
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for December 19:

• Micah 5:2-5a
• Canticle 18 (Luke 1:47-55) Or Psalm 80:1-7
• Hebrews 10:5-10
• Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

 
Collect

Heavenly Father,

who chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace,

to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour,

now fill us with your grace,

that we in all things may embrace your will

and with her rejoice in your salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 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. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

 
Reflection Questions

1. The spotlight shines on Mary and Elizabeth, who are privileged to be instruments of God’s saving work. What does it mean for people in our generation to say, “yes” to God?
2. There are two words here that are translated as, “blessed”, the first time it means a blessing that is both current and for future generations, the second time it could mean, “happy”, which is the word Jesus uses in the beatitudes. What’s the connection between the words, blessed and happy?
3. What is God doing through unexpected people in our society today?
4. Where is God at work through people whom our neighbors and fellow church members often exclude or treat as shameful?

 
Closing Prayer

O God of Elizabeth and Mary,

you visited your servants with news of the world's redemption

in the coming of the Savior.

Make our hearts leap with joy,

and fill our mouths with songs of praise,

that we may announce glad tidings of peace,

and welcome the Christ in our midst. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

^39-45 Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You’re so blessed among women,

    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!

And why am I so blessed that

    the mother of my Lord visits me?

The moment the sound of your

    greeting entered my ears,

The babe in my womb

    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.

Blessed woman, who believed what God said,

    believed every word would come true!

^46-55 And Mary said,

I’m bursting with God-news;

    I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened—

    I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten,

    the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

His mercy flows in wave after wave

    on those who are in awe before him.

He bared his arm and showed his strength,

    scattered the bluffing braggarts.

He knocked tyrants off their high horses,

    pulled victims out of the mud.

The starving poor sat down to a banquet;

    the callous rich were left out in the cold.

He embraced his chosen child, Israel;

    he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.

It’s exactly what he promised,

    beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, December 9, 2021 Advent III

Consider the Word, December 9, 2021
Advent III
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for December 12:

• Zephaniah 3:14-20
• Canticle 3 (Isaiah 12:2-6)
• Philippians 4:4-7
• Luke 3:7-18

Collect

God of power and mercy,

you call us once again

to celebrate the coming of your Son.

Remove those things which hinder love of you,

that when he comes,

he may find us waiting in awe and wonder

for him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 3:7-18

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

 
Reflection Questions

1. In what ways do we feel challenged by John’s message?
2. How has the promise to Abraham and Sarah been fulfilled in our day? That is, if it has.
3. What does it mean to be in right relationship with God and neighbour?

 
Closing Prayer

O God of the exiles and the lost,

you promise restoration and wholeness

through the power of Jesus Christ.

Give us faith to live joyfully,

sustained by your promises

as we eagerly await the day when they will be fulfilled

for all the world to see,

through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 3:7-18

^7-9 When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and flourishing? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”

¹⁰ The crowd asked him, “Then what are we supposed to do?”

¹¹ “If you have two coats, give one away,” he said. “Do the same with your food.”

¹² Tax men also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what should we do?”

¹³ He told them, “No more extortion—collect only what is required by law.”

¹⁴ Soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He told them, “No harassment, no blackmail—and be content with your rations.”

¹⁵ The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, “Could this John be the Messiah?”

^16-17 But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”

^18-20 There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message! But Herod, the ruler, stung by John’s rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, December 2, 2021

Consider the Word, December 2, 2021
Advent II
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for December 5:

• Baruch 5:1-9 Or Malachi 3:1-4
• Canticle 19 (Luke 1:68-79)
• Philippians 1:3-11
• Luke 3:1-6a

 
Collect

Almighty God,

who sent your servant John the Baptist

to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah,

inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth,

to turn our disobedient hearts to you,

that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge,

we may stand with confidence before his glory;

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, -as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; -and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

 
Reflection Questions

1. Why would John preach that the first step on our journey toward freedom is a baptism of repentance?
2. What is the nature of the Good News that John proclaims, that is not just for us, but for the whole world?

 
Closing Prayer

Out of the embrace of mercy and righteousness,

you have brought forth joy and dignity for your people,

O Holy One of Israel.

Remember now your ancient promise:

make straight the paths that lead to you,

and smooth the rough ways,

that in our day

we might bring forth your compassion

for all humanity. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 3:1-6

3 ^1-6 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah’s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:

Thunder in the desert!

“Prepare God’s arrival!

Make the road smooth and straight!

Every ditch will be filled in,

Every bump smoothed out,

The detours straightened out,

All the ruts paved over.

Everyone will be there to see

The parade of God’s salvation.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, November 25, 2021 Advent I

Consider the Word, November 25, 2021
Advent I
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 28:

• Jeremiah 33:14-16
• Psalm 25:1-9
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
• Luke 21:25-36

 
Collect

Almighty God,

give us grace to cast away the works of darkness

and put on the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life

in which your Son Jesus Christ

came to us in great humility,

that on the last day,

when he shall come again in his glorious majesty

to judge both the living and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal;

through him who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 21:25-36

Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 
Reflection Questions

1. How is this “parable” more of an observation and a warning than a story with a moral?
2. How is this reading an expression of the need for patience, endurance, and trust in life?
3. How might we experience the nearness of the kingdom of God?

 
Closing Prayer

O God of all the prophets,

you herald the coming of the Son of Man

by wondrous signs in the heavens and on the earth.

Guard our hearts from despair so that we,

in the company of the faithful

and by the power of your Holy Spirit,

may be found ready to raise our heads

at the coming near of our redemption,

the day of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 21:25-36

25-26 “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

 

27-28 “And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!”

 

29-33 He told them a story. “Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God’s kingdom is about here. Don’t brush this off: I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

 

34-36 “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, November 18, 2021 The Reign of Christ Sunday

 
Consider the Word, November 18, 2021
The Reign of Christ Sunday
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 21:

• 2 Samuel 23:1-7
• Psalm 132:1-13 (14-19)
• Revelation 1:4b-8
• John 18:33-37

 
Collect

Almighty and everlasting God,

whose will it is to restore all things

in your well-beloved Son, our Lord and King,

grant that the peoples of the earth,

now divided and enslaved by sin,

may be freed and brought together

under his gentle and loving rule;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 18:33-37

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

 
Reflection Questions
The charge of kingship is the central question of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Jesus never answers Pilate’s question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Who do we say Jesus is?

1. What are the implications for us and our claims for Jesus?

 
Closing Prayer

Most High God, majestic and almighty,

our beginning and our end:

rule in our hearts

and guide us to be faithful in our daily actions,

worshiping the one who comes

as Savior and Sovereign,

and who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.

 
The Message:

³³ Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”

³⁵ Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”

³⁶ “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

³⁷ Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”

Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

 
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, November 11, 2021

Consider the Word, November 11, 2021
Here’s the Bible Study, but there is no actually (via Zoom) study group this week.
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 14:

• 1 Samuel 1:4-20
• 1 Samuel 2:1-10, As Canticle
• Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18), 19-25
• Mark 13:1-8

 
Collect

Almighty God,

you sent your Son Jesus Christ

to be the light of the world.

Free us from all that darkens and ensnares us,

and bring us to eternal light and joy;

through the power of him

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 13:1-8

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."  When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"  Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.  Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs."

 
Reflection Questions

1. Does knowing that “apocalypse” means an “unveiling” or “revelation” help in our understanding of this scripture?

 
Closing Prayer

God of all life we give thanks for the signs

of your love and creativity

that surround us and bless us.

May it be so.

 
The Message: Mark 13:1-8

13 As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

² Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

^3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?”

^5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, November 4, 2021

Consider the Word, November 4, 2021
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 7:

• Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

 
Collect

Eternal God,

who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning,

grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,

that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do." She said to her, "All that you tell me I will do." So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him." Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

 
Reflection Questions

1. How do we see God at work here?
2. How do we understand the relationship between human will and divine agency?
3. The narrator of Ruth knows how the story ends, does hindsight change our understanding of God’s activity?
4. How does this story inform our sense of belonging, not as thoughtless sense of ownership, but rather of caretaking, safety, and affection?

 
Closing Prayer

O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. 

Let the desire of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows,

and give peace to your Church,

peace among nations, peace in our homes,

and peace in our hearts;

through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 
The Message: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

3 ^1-2 One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, “My dear daughter, isn’t it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life? And isn’t Boaz our close relative, the one with whose young women you’ve been working? Maybe it’s time to make our move. Tonight is the night of Boaz’s barley harvest at the threshing floor.

^3-4 “Take a bath. Put on some perfume. Get all dressed up and go to the threshing floor. But don’t let him know you’re there until the party is well under way and he’s had plenty of food and drink. When you see him slipping off to sleep, watch where he lies down and then go there. Lie at his feet to let him know that you are available to him for marriage. Then wait and see what he says. He’ll tell you what to do.”

⁵ Ruth said, “If you say so, I’ll do it, just as you’ve told me.”

¹³ Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God’s gracious gift she conceived and had a son.

^14-15 The town women said to Naomi, “Blessed be God! He didn’t leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He’ll make you young again! He’ll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she’s worth more to you than seven sons!”

¹⁶ Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot.

¹⁷ The neighborhood women started calling him “Naomi’s baby boy!” But his real name was Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson