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Advent is a season of anticipation, but as we near the end of the season of Pentecost our readings anticipate this anticipation. Today we hear both a story of a miraculous birth and Jesus’ prophecies of the end times as a new beginning. As the children’s curriculum Godly Play tells us in its lesson on the church year: “For every beginning there is an ending, and for every ending there is a beginning.” Our endings and beginnings get all tied up together.
1 Samuel 1:4-20
UPCOMING WEEKS In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me... (v. 34)
Dean Feldmeyer Katy Stenta Thomas Willadsen Mary Austin Christopher Keating George Reed
For February 28, 2021:
Called to the Cross by Dean Feldmeyer — No good deed goes unpunished…in Washington.
Second Thoughts: Alone and On the Road by Katy Stenta — For many of us, a part of change is suffering. But that is not always how it has to go, sometimes wondrous or good things change us too.
Oscar Wilde penned a powerful story about behaviors and definitions and justice called The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian was a handsome young man, a model of physical beauty and moral virtue. People complimented him on his good graces. Parents pointed to him as an example to their youth. One artist even painted an exquisite portrait of him.
"Have you seen it?" whispered the Barbie doll to her next door neighbour.
The next Barbie doll in line was instantly alert. There were five different Barbie dolls, who lived jumbled together in the toy cupboard but who were so jealous of each other that they rarely spoke. "Seen what?" asked the second Barbie doll, blue eyes darting all round the room.
"The Princess," replied the first Barbie with glee. "Caitlin's done her hair and it looks terrible!"
Theme For The Day: The road to God's kingdom is the way of obedience, suffering and death, the way of the cross. Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow him.
These verses from Mark's gospel are a call to commitment, a call to sacrifice, and a call to give up everything of earthly value in life. To say these are difficult verses is truly an understatement. It is pretty clear that the disciples are not at all ready for what Jesus is saying. They are not ready for Jesus to die and they certainly are not ready to die themselves.
