Emily Delgado Romans 12:9-12 Be joyful, rejoicing, because you have hope. Rejoice! Rejoice! Do not forget, for hope is always around the corner. Be patient in suffering; in affliction; in tribulation. Be patient when the troubles come, endure in distress. For you are faithful in prayer. Continuing, persevering, persisting at all times. You have devoted…
David Bridges John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NRSV) The Gospel – the Good News – of Jesus Christ, all in one verse. The incarnation – God coming to…
Alexis Kennedy Psalm 98:4-9 When something brings excitement to children or overwhelms them with joy, what do they do? They shout, they scream, they squeal with delight! They express it by making a loud and joyful noise! They certainly don’t whisper or sit and reflect on it quietly. And hearing their unrestrained reaction brings others…
Jeni and Ray Cook Furr Luke 2:8-10 8 That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9 All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don’t be…
Carol Hagler Luke 1:46-48 As puzzled as a virginal teenaged Mary must have been by the angel’s announcement in Luke 1:30-33, she readily accepts her role as expectant mother of the long-awaited Messiah. In Luke 1:46-48, she pours out her song of joy, praise, and gratitude to God in the beautiful Magnificat. When given this…
Mary Johns Nichols Isaiah 9:2-3 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the…
Mark Noblitt Luke 2:11-14 (NIV) 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host…
Emily Yeager Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 Memory. Remembering. How many times a day do we comment about our memory or the things we need to remember? We hear comments like, “I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on!” or “I don’t have a good memory for peoples’ names.” I laugh at comments like these and…
Norman Dugas Isaiah 43:1-3 There’s not a lot of peace in our modern, daily lives. Pressures abound. Cell phones ringing. Email pinging. Obligations tugging at our shirttails. Maybe that’s why I so look forward to the worship hour at Woodland each Sunday. Daniel chimes the hour, and I begin to feel at peace. I hear…
Mary Russell John 14:27 “Peace, this I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 Oh, what comforting words to live by knowing that, in all situations one encounters, all…