Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath, you begin to clear your mind.-
Breathe in: Seeing
Breathe out: God
-Continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.-
Isaiah 55:12
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 55:10-13
Seeing God in Nature
When I see a beautiful sunset after a hard day, I remember God is with me in the hard times as well as the good times.
When I see a rainbow, I remember of God’s promises.
When I see the ocean, I am in awe of the majesty of God.
When I see the birds on the beach, I remember the diversity of God’s creation.
When I see the trees swaying in the wind, I remember to praise God.
When I see the mountains, I remember God is in control.
When I see the rain, I remember my mistakes are washed away.
When I see the snow, I remember God can cover all sin.
What would you add to this list?
Where do you see God?
What part of nature helps you to understand God?
-Please take a moment.-
Breathe in: Seeing
Breathe out: God
Creator, thank you for all you have created. When I look at the world around me, I remember your love and care. You have made a beautifully diverse world, and I am privileged to be part of it. Please help me to continue to see your character in all of nature.
–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath, you begin to clear your mind.-
Breathe in: relation
Breathe out: ships
-Continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.-
1 Peter 4:8
The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11
For the next several weeks, I plan to ask myself this question: Where am I seeing God? Lately I have been seeing God in and through my relationships. Relationships are important, and they are what help me to stay in a good frame of mind. As I think about my relationships, there are two examples in the past week where God has shown up. I am sure you will be able to relate to them.
When I think of a person, I try to make contact with them. Lately I have been thinking about an ex-roommate. I texted her, and we had a great conversation. Our short conversation reminded both of us that God is at work in the world. It was great to catch up with her. God brought her to my mind, and I took the next step to contact her. This is one way God is in our relationships.
The other circumstance that comes to mind is the result of an accidental phone call. I was getting ready to leave work. I went to call my husband to tell him I was on my way home, and ask if he needed anything from the store. The person who answered was not my husband. I was shocked! The voice on the other end was that of the husband of a friend. He informed me it was his wife’s birthday, so he gave her the phone. I wished her a happy birthday, and we caught up a little. This beautiful moment would not have happened if not for the mistake of calling the wrong person. God was there helping me to connect even when I was not thinking of connecting.
God is with us in our relationships. God helps us maintain our relationships. God reminds us of the importance of relationships.
Where are you seeing God?
How are your relationships?
Who should you connect with today?
-Please take a moment.-
-Take some deep breaths.-
Breathe in: relation
Breathe out: ships
God of relationship, thank you for reminding us of the importance of relationships. Thank you for being there to help us maintain our relationships. Thank you for being in relationship with us. Amen
Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness, your voice moves over the waters. Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit, that we may follow after your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath, you begin to clear your mind.-
Breathe in: Restore
Breathe out: Me
-Continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.-
Colossians 1:20
[God] has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:13-20
As I think about this New Year, I think about my need to be restored. As a result, restoration has become my word for 2021. I know I am not the only one who feels the need for restoration.
As I have thought about my restoration, I remembered that Jesus came to the world to restore humanities relationship with God. As Colossians 1:20 says, “through [Jesus] God was pleased to reconcile to [God’s self] all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” My reconciliation to God comes through Jesus’ blood. Jesus is my restoration.
Jesus came to this earth to be our mediator. Jesus came to this earth to help us see God. Jesus came to this earth to show us God. Jesus came to this earth so we can know God.
Where is your restoration?
What is your word for the New Year?
-Please take a moment.-
-Take some deep breaths.-
Breathe in: Restore
Breathe out: Me
God of restoration, thank you for taking the time to reveal yourself to us through your son Jesus Christ. I pray that your restoration will be with us throughout the New Year, and that we can feel a true restoration of all that has been lost. Amen
Sending Hymn: Go Tell It On the Mountain Text: African American spiritual, refrain; John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925, stanzas, alt. Public Domain. Performed by First Plymouth Church, used with permission
Join us for a Stories and Carols Christmas Service. This service was produced by the Southwest Washington Synod of the ELCA in conjunction with the several of the congregations within the Synod.
Stories and Carols
Announcements
Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be on January 17th at 11 am. Keep an eye out for how to participate.
–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath, you begin to clear your mind.-
Breathe in: Peace
Breathe out: On Earth
-Continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.-
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:8-20 AKJV
“On earth peace, good will toward men.” This is the greeting the angels gave the shepherds as they were in the field watching their sheep. We want peace on earth, and in our own lives. Both of these forms of peace do not come easily. It takes work to have peace. Sometimes it takes more work to have peace than to have chaos.
I have found that when I catch my heart racing, or find myself worrying about things I cannot control it is time for me to stop, take a few deep breaths, and relax. This is my answer to Psalm 46, which says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
In between the breaths, I can find God. In between the breaths, I can find my calm. In between the breaths, my heart begins to stop racing.
Try taking some deep breaths when you are feeling anxious.
Take a moment to be still with God.
-Please take a moment.-
-Take some deep breaths.-
Breathe in: Peace
Breathe out: On Earth
God of peace, thank you for being with me in my anxious moments. Thank you for reminding me that I need to breath during these times. Thank you for being with me in between my breathing. Amen
