Transformation Blog

I had to post this early this week.  It so describes what it is like to follow the Lord, to live in the dark because I am under the shadow of His wings, and put one foot in front of the other.  This is Mary in a new light for me.  How about you? Cindy Advent 4: Saying Yes to God Posted on December 17th, 2012 by Ruth Haley Barton in eReflections Lectionary Readings for December 22, 2012: Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary In the fourth week of Advent we begin to move beyond waiting and preparation to a deeper sense of the immanency of Christ’s coming. Anticipation is high. The fourth Sunday of Advent is traditionally the Sunday when the story of the Annunciation is read as the Church gathers and the drama of the Incarnation begins to unfold. In the middle of this drama is a young girl named Mary who is pulled onto center stage as she is confronted with God’s will for her life.  The archa

This Advent, more than any in recent times, we need courage to go forward and meet the challenges that face us as individuals and as the Church.  Mental illness, as in the cases of many mass shooters, is an issue that is still virtually unaddressed in terms of the average family being able to deal with it.  No simple change to health care is going to to solve it, nor is the prison system.  NAMI is making inroads.  But the spiritual state of our nation is badly damaged, and there needs to be major restoration of the heart of the gospel in our churches.  There needs to be prayer--real prayer.  There needs to be comfort--a taking in of the wounded and the weak--by a church transformed by the Holy Spirit.  Otherwise we are helpless. (John 15:5) I am reposting this Advent blog from the Transforming Center in Illinois. It gave me hope today.  God bless you all this week. Cindy Advent 3: A Time for Courage Posted on December 10th, 2012 by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun in eReflections Lec

These are so good that I MUST pass them along!  Enjoy! Advent 2: He Must Increase, I Must Decrease Posted on December 3rd, 2012 by Rory Noland in eReflections Lectionary Readings for December 9, 2012: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary The lectionary readings for this second Sunday in Advent tell the story of John the Baptist. The prophet Malachi describes him as the “messenger of the covenant,” the one sent to prepare the way for the coming Messiah (Malachi 3:1). The first Gospel reading is the passionate prayer recited by John’s father, Zechariah, at the birth of his son (Luke 1:68-79). The second Gospel reading depicts John fulfilling the ministry he was called to do: 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 wil