Advent Devotional 11-30-25

 Welcome to this Advent Season!  On this first day of Advent, I’m wondering how I will approach the season this year. It is a time of expectation, anticipation, and preparation. Many of us “older ones” have made this journey toward Bethlehem so many times that it has lost its sense of excitement. We look ahead at the calendar and become weary, making our list of the things to be done, feeling as if it is our personal responsibility to make Christmas happen. 

It isn’t that way for the children in our lives. They are excited and energized in their anticipation. They approach the manger with wide-eyed delight. There is wonder and awe in this miracle of Christmas! I want some of that spirit. 

In one of his Advent Studies, Let Us Go over to Bethlehem, Reverend Dr. James Moore offers a list of “Commandments for Christmas.” These “commandments” help us begin our journey toward the celebration of Christ’s birth. (The list has been adapted and updated)

• You shall prepare early.  Don’t wait until the last minute to get into the Christmas spirit. 
• You shall keep Christ at the center of Christmas. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the commercialism of the season. Resolve to read Scripture (use your devotional book) and meditate upon what it means that Christ comes into the world.
• You shall make Christmas a family time. Do things together with your biological or chosen family. 
• You shall remember those who are less fortunate. Contribute money to or volunteer with organizations serving the needs of others throughout the year.  Add a special Christmas gift through your church.
• You shall give yourself with every gift. As you care for each gift, pray for the one who will receive it. Wrap your giving in love.
• You shall learn to be a good receiver. Many of us have trouble receiving graciously and gracefully. 
• You shall take some time for something special in your life. That something special will vary. For me, that means finding time for the music of Christmas—especially the music of worship. (The Lessons and Carols Service will be December 14.)
• You shall slow down. Remember: Christmas is to be a season of peace and hope, not a sprint to the finish line. 
• You shall remember to worship. The church is the place you are most likely to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.
• You shall receive Christ into your life. Don’t just talk about the Christ of Christmas, let the Light of Christ shine on and through you. 

Welcome to your Advent journey. May you find opportunities to celebrate the miracles! Feel the joy! If you listen with your heart, you can hear the angels sing. If you open your heart, the Christ Child will enter in.

Begin the season as you read the words of promise from Isaiah 2: 1-5.

Prayer:  God, we thank you for the many gifts you give us during the season of Advent. Strengthen our faith so that we may see your love and presence each day as Christmas approaches.  Amen. 

Rev. Mark Connor

Advent Devotional 12-22-24

 O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Phillips Brooks

Read Micah 5: 2-5a

Micah had the unenviable task of being called by God to offer God’s prophetic word to people living in a difficult time and place.   Life was insecure and anxious for the people living in the 8th Century BCE in Judah.  There was no “peace on earth” and Micah was not happy.  About ten years before Micah began offering his words, the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians. People moved to Jerusalem thinking that life would be better there, but the flood of people just made Judah poorer and less secure. The people of Judah were fearful that other kingdoms surrounding them would battle to take them over in the same way as their relatives in the north had been defeated.  The King and leaders of Judah began to pay tributes and make treaties with these foreign leaders in the hope that they would not be attacked. Maintaining a defensive army was not cheap and the people of Judah were overwhelmed in hardship, confusion, and despair. 

Micah challenged the leadership and people to change their ways and return to a proper relationship with God. In these verses, Micah spoke of his hope for leadership. He speaks for God when he announces that help can come from the most unexpected of places, the town of Bethlehem.  Tiny Bethlehem was a “one camel” town with little to offer, yet it was the birthplace of King David.  It had now been 300 years since David led the people of Isreal in the glorious and faithful days of prosperity, respect, and security.  
    
This new leader that Micah announces will be one, like David, who “shall feed his flock in the strength of the Lord.”  This leader will honor the majesty of Israel’s God. This leader will bring about a sense of security and hope.  This leader “shall be the one of peace.”  It was a passionate word of hope!
  
Micah did not live to see the fulfillment of his words of hope, but over 700 years later, his prophecy came to light.  It just didn’t happen as quickly as Micah had dreamed.  It didn’t come in the way of security and hope for the kingdom of Israel that Micah longed for.  But in God’s time and in God’s way, those promises of the prophet were fulfilled. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. He is the shepherd who feeds his flock; the One who brings majesty and security in the name of the Lord God. Jesus is the one of peace!  

This is a Ruler like no other. This is our hope; for Christ brings to our darkened world the everlasting light. 

Prayer
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel! 

Rev. Dr. Mark Conner

Devotion - December 16, 2023

 Today would have been our mother’s 98th birthday.  Thinking of her birthday reminded me of some of our childhood Christmas traditions.  We may have put up a few decorations in early December, but the Christmas tree would not go up until after her birthday.  In those days, we had real Christmas trees (my Boy Scout Troop sold them).  We thought mother wanted to “protect” her birthday celebration, but it really was for safety. Trees with older style hot lights bulbs and tinsel (individual strands placed, not clumped together) dried out, and we wanted the tree to last until after New Year’s Day. 

Through the years, those traditions have changed. Decorating for Christmas has come earlier (and earlier!) and become much more elaborate. Even the church’s preparation has changed. During childhood days there was no Chrismon Tree, no Advent Wreath, and not really much talk about a season of Advent.  In the early 1970’s there was a time of liturgical renewal in the newly formed United Methodist Church. Advent Wreaths, greenery, and Chrismon Trees were added to sanctuaries. Some thought the church was following the secular world, but the worship leaders were trying to help us understand that we, the followers of Christ, needed some time to prepare for the celebration of the coming of Christ into our world.  Our liturgies, our trees, our candles all help us remember that we are preparing for Christ’s coming. 

As we prepare for the Third Sunday of Advent, we hear from John’s Gospel. We expect to hear about a young family on their holy journey to Bethlehem or maybe shepherds in the fields listening to the cantata of the angels. But John doesn’t offer any of the things that give us the warm feelings of Christmas. Instead, he points us toward the one who “leaped in his mother’s womb” when Elizabeth heard Mary’s story. Jesus’ cousin John comes to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isa. 40:3) He comes to bear witness to the coming Light of God, reminding all who would listen that the world’s darkness cannot overpower the Light that comes to us in Christ. 

John speaks, and I am challenged to remember that our task, like his, is to bear witness to the light of Christ as a voice calling out in the wilderness of our disorganized, fractured, and selfish world. John’s task was to point the people of his day and time to the Christ whose love will transform the world.  That is our task today.

In the wilderness in which we live, Christ’s love challenges us to continue to share in the work John began. In this season when we are surrounded by so many lights, we are called to boldly let the Light of Christ shine through us, allowing the world to see the way of Christ’s love, hope, forgiveness, and grace.  There is a lot of darkness in our world these days. With John, we are challenged to live lives that point to the true Light, Jesus our Christ.  Prepare the way of the Lord!

Prayer:  Amazing God, giver of Christ to our world, help me to not trivialize the good news of your birth into the world.  May your Light, O Christ, shine through me.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Mark Conner

Devotional 12-15-22

 Matthew 1: 18-25

Time after time, God has interrupted normal people doing their normal work with a challenge that changed their lives and tested their faith.  Think of Abraham, Moses, any of the prophets, all of the disciples, Paul, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph.

God interrupted Joseph’s normal life while he was sleeping.  Can you imagine that dream? An angel appeared to Joseph saying, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife because the child she carries has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Then we are told that when Joseph woke up, he did just as the angel had commanded.  That’s almost too unexpected to ever be expected.

I’ve wondered what it must have been like for Mary to share her news with Joseph and her family. There were three stages in normal Jewish marriages of that day. A match and agreement were made within the families of the man and woman. Often the man was a good bit older than the woman. Then when the woman was old enough, the betrothal period began. This was usually a yearlong time during which the couples ratified the engagement. The couples were known as husband and wife, though they did not live together. At the end of that betrothal period, the couple formally made their covenant of marriage and began living together as wife and husband. 

For Mary and Joseph, the match had been made. They were a couple in the midst of getting to
know one another when the Gabriel visited Mary and she said yes to God’s amazing opportunity. But there was Joseph, her husband. Joseph, a righteous man, honored the tradition. He knew what he had not done and still the announcement came to him that his betrothed was with child. 

Joseph had to be deeply hurt, humiliated, disappointed, and unbelieving that his Mary would do something like this to him and their relationship. Everything was so well planned. They had followed the expected customs. Joseph had done everything a good man was supposed to do. The character of Joseph shone through. He didn’t want to humiliate her. He didn’t publicly expose her, but simply decided to call off the engagement quietly. 

And then a dream came to him.  How do you trust a dream—especially a dream like that one? How do you let go of your anger and disappointment and learn to trust that relationship again? I don’t know how Joseph did it, but he did. He didn’t plan the Christmas story. There is no way he could have predicted it. But still he opened himself to it and allowed himself to participate. God needed Joseph. The prophecies of old needed Joseph who was of the house and lineage of David. Joseph got involved in something that went far beyond what he could see or understand. 
I confess that I find it difficult sometimes to trust in God –to act on something which I cannot fully explain or control. And yet, that is exactly what God asks from us. It is called having faith--believing that God can and will use people like us to change the world. When God is involved, expect the unexpected. Hear the angel say, “Do not be afraid.” Then just say yes to God’s hope for you. 

Prayer:  God of the unexpected, in all generations you have called persons to be in your service. Speak your call to us as you spoke to Joseph, that we may live to do your will. Renew us, so that we may welcome Jesus Christ to rule our thoughts and claim our love as Lord of lords, and King of kings.  Amen.

Rev. Mark Conner

Devotional 12-24-21

Christmas Eve

Scripture readings for the day:  Isaiah 62:6-12, Psalm 97, Titus 3: 4-7, Luke 2: 1-20

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”   Luke 2: 10-11

We are almost there.  All the last-minute things are getting done. There is a hum of energy and melody in the air. It isn’t just us--it is all of creation.  That thin line separating heaven from earth is so fine you can almost see through it. God’s own is coming among us. His name is Emmanuel—God-with-us.  This gift of God is made of the same stuff we are and is made of the same stuff God is. 

This time is filled with Christmas dreams and memories. We have this wonderful idea of how it should all be, but it doesn’t always live up to our expectations. We thought this Christmas would be better and easier than last year. Instead, we are still hoping for a calmer, purer, more centered, non-COVID time. 

We know the story. We have an idealized image of how it should be. We expect one of those Christmas card images where the artist focuses on all the right things—the softness of the baby’s skin; the warm bodies of the animals standing around the child, heating the air with their breath; Mary and Joseph offering there serene, attentive love. But everything didn’t go as perfectly as we picture it. Mary and Joseph were tired and frustrated. They were away from home and family. Mary has given birth in less-than-ideal circumstances. There was no bed in which to rest. Joseph had to prepare the food, and he was a better carpenter than cook. They weren’t expecting company—certainly not a bunch of scruffy shepherds. And yet, God was still there, right in the middle of the picture. Peace was there, and joy, and hope, and love—not only for the best of times but also (and maybe especially) for the difficult and unusual moments. 

It is God-with-us; not God up there somewhere who answers our prayers by lifting us up out of our lives, but the God who comes to us in the midst of our living. That is where God is born—in any cradle we will offer. 

A lot of us hope for a moment tonight or sometime tomorrow when everything will be perfect—just like it seems in our neat and clean nativity sets or Christmas card pictures. We want to be transported into that heavenly feeling of calm and wonder and awe, where we will know and feel, without any questions that powerful presence of God in us. But all our work will not make that happen: Someone’s gift won’t fit; an expensive toy won’t work right, and a child’s overflow of anticipation will give way to tears; all the parts will not fit together the way the diagram shows; and that one relative will still know how everything should be done, while sitting there doing nothing to help. It will never be Christmas perfect.  

And that is all right, because tonight, all of heaven is coming down to us; right into our own Bethlehem, bringing us the God who has decided to make a home in our arms. Christmas becomes perfect as we open our arms and hearts to receive the Christ God gives to us. For God is with us.  Christ is born.  Alleluia!

Prayer:  God of great love, remind us of the good news, for we sometimes forget. Take us to see Jesus, for it is easy to lose our way. Grant us the joy of your presence and the assurance of your steadfast love. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may the light and power of Christ come into our hearts that we may find peace with you now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Mark Conner

Devotional 12-2-20

 Please read Isaiah 40: 1-11

Isaiah 40:1-11 (New Revised Standard Version)

Comfort, O comfort my people,
    says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that she has served her term,
    that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
    double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
    and all people shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
    their constancy is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
    surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades;
    but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 Get you up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good tidings;[a]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,[b]
    lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead the mother sheep.

What will we do with Advent this year?  Many of my “usual” preparations just won’t work right now. Much of those usual things have to do with setting the scene for Christmas: decorating the sanctuary with the Chrismon Trees, adding lights and candles, watching as the Advent Wreath is lighted; putting up Nativities; listening for certain Advent hymns with their words of expectation; rehearsing, singing, and listening to the music of the season; experiencing the joy of the church family together in worship and social get-togethers; and preparations of our homes for family and friends.  

I must confess that I have spent too much time and energy fretting over what I have been missing during this long season of COVID-19. I’m mourning what was and frustrated that what I think “should be” just isn’t safely possible this year. Sometimes I feel like throwing myself a grand pity-party. 

I am reading Isaiah 40 with a different appreciation for how Isaiah addressed the people of Israel. I am whining about the things I am missing, but then realize how the people of Israel were enduring exile. They were enslaved in a foreign land. They were separated from family, friends, and community.  They didn’t realize just how much they missed their Temple in Jerusalem until they could not go there for worship. Absence made their hearts grow fonder and, in that separation, many began to realize the sin of their past, discovering that they had taken God and their special relationship with God for granted. 

The 40th Chapter of Isaiah begins a new message for those exiled people. Isaiah offers from God words of comfort, assurance, and hope. A return is coming. The assurance and love are offered along with some words of caution. The people will not return to the way things were before they left. Getting back to their home will take some hard work and effort. The way through the wilderness won’t be a “walk in the park” but a physical and spiritual journey with God through the desert way, through the  valleys, over the mountains, and into that place where the glory of the Lord will be revealed.  Through it all, God will lead them.  Like a shepherd, God will gather them together in arms of love to care and feed them.  It is a glorious vision of restoration and wholeness. 

These great words Isaiah bring comfort, preparation, assurance, and promise to a troubled people. As people of faith, we understand that Isaiah spoke not only to the people in exile, but to the people longing for the coming of their Christ, and even to us in all the situations we face in this day and time. Hear these words of the 40th Chapter as Isaiah speaks particularly to us.

I still do not know exactly how we will make our Advent preparations this year. It will look and feel differently than it has in the past.  I will try to spend more time this Advent preparing, not so much with external decorations or the season’s usual traditions, but with the faith-filled ways of the journey home from exile.  I will try to hear the words of scripture and music differently because my ears and heart are longing for something more. I will try to appreciate the journey to Bethlehem differently because of the mountains, valleys, and deserts we know these days. I will try to wait differently-- more expectantly, more hopefully-- this year because I am learning new meanings of patience and hope.  I will try to worry less and celebrate more as the reality of God’s amazing gift of Christ with us becomes ever more real.  

Alberto Taulé, a Catalonian hymn writer, has offered his understanding of Isaiah’s words with the hymn, “Toda la Tierra/All Earth Is Waiting.”  (We don’t sing it often, but it is found in the UMH on page 210.)

Rev. Dr. Mark Conner

Devotional 12-6-15

For the past week you have read powerful words of judgment and promise.  They are words of Advent preparation and challenge.  I’ve been struck by the way many are concerned about “keeping Christ in Christmas” and others who seem amazingly concerned that a red coffee/latte cup does not invoke the way and spirit of Christmas. One response to those concerns has come back with the challenge that maybe our faithful focus might be to “keep Christ in Christian.”  These Advent readings help us center ourselves by asking us some questions of the heart.

Who can endure the day of his coming? Malachi has reminded us of the refining and purifying way of the One who is to come among us.  What will God’s refining look like in us? In our community?  In our congregations?  How different will we look if our offerings are pleasing to the Lord?  It isn’t easy to look inside.  Preparation can be hard work for us.  (Malachi 3: 1-4)

Zechariah’s voice returns in the first Luke reading and he breaks into song.  Zechariah has reason to rejoice.  After long years of waiting and hoping, he and Elizabeth had been blessed with the gift of a son. But instead of simply praising God for this gift, he points us toward the way of God’s tender mercies that will come quickly to God’s people in the form of God’s own son, Emmanuel.  The one who was silenced is now celebrating the forgiveness, the love, the hope, and the light that God brings to him and to all people.  His little boy will prepare the way for us to know Christ.  What darkness have you known?  What has silenced you?  Who brings light to your life? With whom do you share light? Are we ready for the gift John points us toward?  (Luke 1: 68-79)

Paul challenges us to live in a way that is pure and blameless at the coming of Christ.  That seems so impossible.  He whispers to us from prison a prayer that the people of the congregation at Philippi (and us) would live in active love—a love that will overflow in knowledge and insight so that we know what is best. That is the way that we will be ready for the day of Christ’s appearing.   How can we live in that active love until we see Christ?  (Philippians 1: 3-11)

Into our busy preparation for the Advent and Christmas seasons (decorating, cleaning, cooking, shopping), comes a challenge to make the right preparations.  Who will prepare the way of the Lord by repentance and forgiveness?  John the Baptist comes among us challenging us to get ready for Jesus. We do that by truthful self-examination.  (Luke 3: 1-6)

Advent questions come to us.  Getting ready for the coming of Christ is hard, faithful work.  We often focus on the tasks to be done but the scripture readings for the week have challenged us to get our hearts and lives ready for Christ.  How will we prepare? What needs to be cleaned, discovered, or reworked in our lives?  Maybe I do need to spend some time making sure that I am keeping “Christ in Christian.”

Prayer:
Advent God, in the busy ways of this season, slow me down.  Interrupt the things I am doing with time to reflect about my spiritual preparation.  I humbly offer my life of faith.  Help me be ready, prepared, and willing to respond to your call in my life.  Amen.

Mark Conner

Devotional 12-18-11

Please read Luke 1:26-38
 

I’ve tried to imagine the young Mary as she meets the Angel Gabriel. So often the Annunciation is depicted in paintings with the long-flowing robes of Gabriel as he stands before a radiant young Mary. In my mind, Mary is a typical young, skinny, awkward, wide-eyed teenager. She is engaged to be married, but has no idea what married life means. She is just doing as she has been told and taught. I think God may have had it right in asking a teenager to share in this astonishing task. An older, more mature person would probably have said, “No.”

It was eight years ago this week that a call came to me that changed the path of my life journey. Ice and snow blanketed Bluefield each Sunday of Advent. The children were scheduled to present their offering of the Christmas Story to the congregation on the 4^thSunday of Advent, but the weather had disrupted our carefully laid plans and their rehearsal schedule. Now I needed to preach on that last Sunday before Christmas.

Only the bravest were on the roads that afternoon, so I used the time to begin work on a sermon I hadn’t planned to need to preach. The Gospel lesson was this passage from Luke. I can remember trying to decide if Mary could have answered with a “no.” In the midst of that work, the phone rang. It was Bishop Ives calling (which was most unusual). I sat up straighter wondering what I might have done that would cause the Bishop to call. After a few pleasantries about the weather, he said that he was calling about my appointment—particularly about a place on the cabinet, asking me to become the superintendent of the Western District. We scheduled conversation time for later in the week when I would give an answer and the phone call was over. I didn’t want to be a superintendent. I was flattered by the honor of being asked, but I valued the opportunity to serve with a congregation. I searched for ways to say no to this new appointment possibility.

As I tried to work on that sermon again, every resource that I read seemed to offer the same message: Sometimes the logical, thoughtful, practical, even desired response is to just say no. If Mary had thought about Gabriel’s question for even a little while, I think she probably would have wanted to say no. But sometimes – sometimes you have to say yes.

I do not know what you are being asked to do; what new opportunities you have been called to do; or what new places you have been challenged to go. The most thoughtful choice may be a no, but God isn’t about the practical, logical, sensible things. God’s desire for us often leads us beyond the safe and secure, tried and true, rational and logical answers into God’s wonderful and mysterious possibilities, with Mary’s assurance that God will be with us every step of the journey.

Mary answered, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your Word.”

Prayer: Here am I, Lord, your servant. May your Word come alive even through me as I offer my heart and life to you. Amen.

Rev. Mark Connor

Devotional 12-31-10

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
From everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90: 1-2

Hard though it is to believe, another year is about to close. As you look back over the past 365 days, do you recall, even a moment, when God was not present with you? On this day of looking back and anticipating the future, it is appropriate that we pause to offer our thanksgiving, confession, and adoration to our God.

Prayer:
All praise and thanks be to you, O God of all generations. Day by day you have shown us your amazing and loving ways. With your generous nature, you have blessed us with far more than we deserve. You give to us not only our daily bread, but so much more. You have walked with us through times of joy and hours of struggle. Your grace and love have never failed us. You provide for us in ways beyond our comprehension and we humbly offer to you our thanks and praise.

As we look over the past year, we must confess our sinful ways. We have acted according to our self interests rather than seeing the needs of your kingdom. In our selfish moments we have thought first of ourselves without realizing how our actions affect others. We confess that there are times when our actions and words have hurt others and you. We have not loved you with our whole heart. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to know again the grace of forgiveness and love which you freely offer to us through Christ.

In this glad season of new birth and great possibilities, we celebrate Christ-with-us. We give thanks that you chose to offer yourself in Christ Jesus—born as one of us. In Christ we see your way and know that we are a part of your kingdom. The wondrous gift of love has been given us. We seek to accept that gift and live in Christ’s love.

In these moments of reflection we bring before you our love and concern for:

• Those who have walked through difficult times of disaster, hardship, and war. Surround them, please, with your love, comfort, and strength.
• Those who grieve. We remember those dear to us who have died during the past year. We name them before you giving thanks for their lives and for their life in you, which will never end.
• Those who live outside the knowledge of your love. Help us to share our faith in ways which will show them the power and wonder of a relationship with you.
• Those who lead us in our world, nation, state, county, and community. Grant strength and courage to them that they may faithfully follow your kingdom’s way.
• Our congregation, the United Methodist Church, and our local church and denominational leaders. Help us to share the light of your love in a world of darkness and despair.

As we close this year and begin a new year, we know that you walk with us. As we look back, we wonder where we would be if you had not been on our side. We thank you for 2010 and look forward to the possibilities and wonder of 2011. Thank you for your abiding presence and power with us. Strengthen us and use us for your work, for we want to be your faithful disciples today and all our tomorrows. In Christ we pray. Amen.

God’s blessing be with you,
Dr. Mark Conner
Western District Superintendent

Devotional 1-3-10

Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2: 19)

In these Christmastide days, it is now our time to treasure and ponder all that we have seen and heard.


In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Those are the words of the first stanza of a poem by Christina Rossetti. (The words have been set to music in the Christmas carol, In the Bleak Midwinter.) It seems that Miss Rossetti assumed that the place of Jesus’ birth had weather like her own home in England. While the frosty wind, the frozen ground, and the snow on snow may not have been a part of the Bethlehem scene, I think she writes about the “feeling” of the time and place.

I enjoy Advent and Christmas. The festive days take energy, but there is something joyous in the air. I dread those days after New Year’s when all the “stuff” gets packed. The house seems so naked without all the special decorations and lights. The days are short; the darkness long. Resolutions are already forgotten or broken. It is the “bleak midwinter” (and winter has barely even started). It seems as if we have done so well in celebrating birth only to be confronted with the dark and cold of winter.

In Parker Palmer’s series of essays, Let Your Life Speak, he uses the seasons of nature to describe the seasons of our lives. He writes, “Winter is a demanding season – and not everyone appreciates the discipline. It is a season when death’s victory can seem supreme; few creatures stir, plants do not visibly grow, and nature feels like our enemy.” He then reminds us that “times of dormancy and deep rest are essential to all living things.” Nature is not dead in winter, even though it may seem that way. Wintertime is needed to prepare for springtime renewal and new growth.

It seems that way in life, too. We all have our valleys – our winter times when we feel failure, betrayal, depression, even death. The stable of Bethlehem looked nothing like a place for new life. The people of the day were more worried about getting registered and making their way back home than they were about something new in our world. Yet the gift of Christmas gives us One who walks with us; a compassionate friend who knows the hills and the valleys of our lives, who understands our bleak midwinter days as well as our times of joy and gladness. This One, our Christ, sits at the hand of God and can whisper in God’s ear to explain what its like to live in these mortal bodies of ours. This Christ walks with us through our winter days to lead us into the new birth which is real love and life, this day and forever.

Rossetti ends her carol with:

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
That is all that we can do – give our hearts to Christ. And although the signs of midwinter are all around us, there is warmth of heart and soul. Christ is with us. Emmanuel has come.

Prayer:
Loving God, giver of Christmas and all our days, we bring to you the bleak midwinter days of our lives. May we treasure your Gift to us, trust your presence with us, and surrender our hearts to your love. Lead us through these days so that we may experience the gift of renewal and new growth; with Christ we pray. Amen.

Dr. Mark Connor
Western District Superintendent

Psalm 124

Margaret P. Douroux has offered word and melody for a setting of Psalm 124, If It Had Not Been for the Lord. (It can be found in The Faith We Sing page 2053. Though the song was written in 1980, it sings and sounds like one of the older spirituals.)

If it had not been for the Lord on my side,
Tell me where would I be, where would I be.

He kept my enemies away; he let the sun shine through a cloudy day.
He rocked me in the cradle of his arm
When he knew I had been battered and scorned,
So if it had not been for the Lord on my side,
Tell me where would I be, where would I be.

He never left me all alone; he gave the peace and joy I’d never known.
He answered when I knelt to really pray,
And in vict’ry the Lord brought me his way,
So if it had not been for the Lord on my side,
Tell me where would I be, where would I be.

Isn’t it interesting that we need to be reminded of all that God has done for us? God delivered the Israelites for their captivity in slavery. God led them through the waters and brought them out of the wilderness. God showed them the way to make this new land their own. These people knew their history. They knew the power and care of their awesome God--and even they needed to be reminded of God’s gracious presence in their lives. Some things never change.

When life is going well, I can convince myself that I am in control—that I’ve got it all covered. When life is not going so well, I fret and worry, wondering where God’s help is. So often it is not until the crisis is over that I can look back to see the ways that God was there to carry me through all the difficulties as well as the good times.

“If it had not been for the Lord on my side” . . . You can fill in the situations, the problems, the joys of your own life. We all have seen sorrows and joys. But know that through it all, God was there for you – for us.

God did not stop with the activity and care the Psalmist knew long ago. God gave a Son to be with us, so that we might know in even better ways the protective, providing, caring, and gracious way of God’s love. Christ comes into the world to show us that God is for us. We are never alone.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124: 8)
Thanks and praise be to our God—the God who is on our side. Amen.

Dr. Mark Conner
District Superintendent, Western District