Advent Devotional 12-23-25

Isaiah 9:2-7,  Psalm 96,  Luke 2:1-20

I chose the scripture from Titus to share with you. 

Titus 2: 11-15: The grace of God has appeared, bringing  salvation to all people.  It educates us so that we can live sensible, ethical, and godly lives right now by rejecting ungodly lives and the desires of this world.   At the same time we wait for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.  He gave himself for us in order to rescue us from every kind of lawless behavior, and cleanse a special people for himself who are eager to do good actions.   Talk about these things. Encourage and correct with complete authority. Don’t let anyone disrespect you.

Pray with me. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, to us. Let us treat others as He treats us.  Amen.

Kay Lewis

Advent Devotional 12-12-24

 Bible readings: Isaiah 12:2-6, Luke 3:7-18

Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus
by Charles Wesley

Come, thou long expected Jesus.
Born to set Thy people free; 
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all -sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Pray: Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us Your Son into a world needing love and acceptance of all. 

I am grateful to call upon Jesus now, as we need to feel His love and acceptance in our world today.  Amen 

Kay Lewis

Devotion - December 23, 2023

 Please read Luke 1:46-55 and Luke1:8-14

Signs of expectancy filled the time before Christ’s birth. The day of Christ’s birth, Christians call Christmas.  I am sure we are all following our own signs of Christmas expectancy. For myself, music is one of those signs.  Music tells the story of Christmas.  

The following was taken from words written “From the Editor”, Lynda Hasseler, giving explanation of a hymn. As a member of the Johnson Memorial UMC choir, I have and am using a copy of the choral piece to write this devotion.

“The Advent hymn, People Look East, first appeared in The Oxford Book of Carols (1928).  The lively, traditional French carol, BESANCON, which earlier appeared with the anonymous text, “Shepherds, shake off your drowsy sleep,” provides a festive musical setting for this wonderful Advent text by Eleanor Farjeon. In the creative hands of composer, Craig Courtney, this lively tune and imaginative text become even more festive as the arrangement captures the air of an Irish jig.  Except for one word that changes in the last two lines of each stanza, the poem and its musical setting give the sense of a refrain. “Love” in turn, is defined as “Guest,” “Rose,” “Star,” and “Lord.

The lyrics go as such:

“People, look East, the time is near of crowning of the year, 
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth, and set the table.
People, look East and sing today: Love the Guest is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though Earth is bare, one more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look East and sing today. Love, the Rose is on the way.
Birds though ye long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen, he for fledging time has chosen.
People, look East and sing today: Love, the bird is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch, when night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim.
Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East and sing today: Love, the star is on the way.
Angels, announce to man and beast Him who cometh from the East.
Set every peak and valley humming with the word the Lord is coming.
People, look East and sing today. Love, the Lord is on the way.”

People, Look East: Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, Arranged for SATB by Craig Courtney, Beckenhorst Press, Inc.  Columbus, Ohio

People, look East, the Lord is on the way. May God bless us all. Merry Christmas!

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-20-22

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, when I became an adult, I put away childish ays.    1Corinthians 13:11  NRSV

When I was a child, I looked forward, I anticipated, I expected material gifts. Paper dolls, baby dolls, roller skates, a bicycle, not so many clothes, although as I aged, I wanted clothes, too. Looking through the SEARS, J.C. Penneys, and any other catalog, making my list for Santa Claus. Material gifts, things, stuff.

 Now that I am older, I am downsizing, decluttering, repurposing material things, stuff. Since retiring, I do not need or want all this stuff in my home. I enjoyed having it at one time, but not anymore.

What I want and need now, are things like items to eat. good health, successful surgery that rids my body of pain, time with family and friends, a place to live, and warmth on these cold days and nights. I want and need simple things not stuff. I pray for hope, along with joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and love, to us all through Christ our Lord.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 RSV        

Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all!  Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-17-21

 Read Luke 1:39-55

Mary, did you know 
That your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know 
That your Baby Boy has come to make you new
This Child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.

The above is from a song by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, “Mary, Did You Know?”

I first heard Kathy Mattea sing it on her cassette tape, “Good News” I purchased many years ago.

I loved the song that first time I heard it.

Thinking of the song and advent, I am thinking of the time I became a mother to my son, Michael, December 27, 1977. A wondrous and glorious time for me. Luke 2 verse 19, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Did she know then that her son would one day walk on water? Did she know the blind will see , the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, did she know her Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

I don’t know much about the childhood of Jesus but I wonder.  Did Mary sing and read to her son like I did? Did she watch over him and make sure he didn’t get hurt?  Did she take him to the market, for walks, to sports practices? Did she oversee his education, help with homework? Did she take him to her church like I did?

Luke 1:49, For He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed.   I believe Mary knew she was blessed. I was and am blessed as well. Thanks be to God !

"The sleeping child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.”    Good news, indeed !!  Amen !

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-9-20

 

December 9, 2020

Lectionary Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126,  1 Thessalonians 5:16-24,  John 1: 6-8, 19-28

John 61: 6-8    There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life- Light . He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in.  John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.     The Message by Eugene H. Peterson   

John 61: 19-28
When Jews from Jerusalem sent  a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn’t evade the question.  He told the plain truth.  “I am not the Messiah”.
   
They pressed him, “Who then? Elijah?”
   
“I am not.”
   
“The Prophet?”
   
“No.

Exasperated they said,  “Who, then?”  We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something--anything!--about yourself.” 
“I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I’m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.”
   
Those sent to question him were from the Pharisee party. Now they had a question for their own;
“If you’re neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?”
   
John answered, “I only baptize using water. A person you don’t recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I am not even worthy to hold his coat
for him.”
   
These conversations took place in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing at the time.

From The Message , Eugene H. Peterson,  2005, Nav Press

Prayer:  Our dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the Light and for those that showed the way. Show me how to shine the Light to others.  Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-17-19

Please read: Isaiah 7:10-16

¹⁴ Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign.  The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. ¹⁵ He will eat butter and honey, and learn to reject evil and choose good.     (Common English Bible)

I was given this date, December 17 to write a devotion. Today is the birth date of my son’s father.

Although we did not stay married very long, we reared a beautiful, hard-working, and God fearing, son.

He is loving and loved. I am ever grateful and blessed that God gave me a son to love. I am also grateful and blessed that God gave me His Son to love and be loved. It is a good day.

Matthew 1:22-23      ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet (Isaiah).  ²³ “ The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” ---which means, “God with us.”  (NIV)

This is the word of God for the people of God.  Thanks be to God.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-13-17

A Tale for Christmas Evening  
 by Lucy Carruth

Now that you’re tired of your toys, Sonny Boy,
And you’re cocking a sleepy eye,
Climb into my lap and I’ll tell you a tale
Of a time that is long gone by.

Over the sea, in a little old town---
No, your daddy was never there---
A Baby was born on the first Christmas Day,
In a place that was chill and bare.

He had no fire like the one we have here,
Where His mother would warm His toes,
Not even a roof covered over his head,
But the stars saw His eyelids close.

Yes, He was poor, but withal was a King,
As the Wise Men afar had been told;
And they came on their camels
    to bring Him rare gifts
Of frankincense, myrrh, and gold.

Where is He now? Why He’s here in our home,
But don’t look for Him with your eyes;
For He is the Spirit of Love, Sonny Boy,
And ev’rything good and wise.
 
Published by Ideals Publications
A Guideposts Company
Nashville, Tennessee
2011
Submitted by Kay Lewis

Devotional 11-30-16

Matthew 3:1-12

As a child, I loved Christmas. I looked forward to getting what I asked to get  A letter was written to Santa Claus detailing just what I wanted for Christmas. I searched through catalogs and made my list. When a little older to see if I was getting what I wanted, I would sneak around searching closets and places I thought my parents were hiding my presents.  Yes, I would even get under the tree, when no one was looking, untape some of my presents to see what they were.  I just could not wait. Not much of a surprise on Christmas morning, though.

Oh, I knew the Christmas story and participated at church in the telling and celebrating, but mostly, it was all about ME and gifts.  I thought Christmas would never arrive.

Now, decades later, I still love looking forward to Christmas and love giving more than receiving.  At my age there is not much I need or want. I do look forward to the music of the season, the lighting of the Advent Wreath, family and friends, the outside lights around houses and on Christmas trees, Christmas Eve service ( hopefully in the sanctuary of JM) and much more.

But most of all, I love that I have been given the greatest gift. The gift of the forgiveness of my sins and eternal life with God’s gift to us all, His Son.

Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas. Our Lord and Savior is coming.   Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-3-15

Malachi 3:1-4,  Luke 1:68-79,  Luke 3:1-6

The scriptures talk about God preparing the world for His Son, Jesus.  This got me thinking about how I prepare for the birth of Jesus.

Preparing for Christmas, I usually write the names of those I want to gift and what I might give them.

I have been buying items through the year so, I get those out to see just what I have and what I might need to get.  I prepare the house with decorations and get some Christmas cards out in the mail (hopefully).  I attend some Christmas parties and concerts, including Lessons and Carols at JMUMC.

I physically prepare for Christmas but, how do I prepare spiritually for the birth of Jesus?  Mediating with this Advent Devotional Booklet is one way.  Let’s search our hearts and minds for ways to prepare for God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Our Heavenly Father, help me prepare for the season of Christmas and Your Son, Jesus.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-19-14

Read Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-27 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Angels are God’s messengers and they appear in numerous places in scripture.  Often they carried a message from the Lord to either Israel or an individual.  Mary and Joseph were visited by an angel as God prepared them for the birth of His Son.  The angel of the Lord appeared at critical times in Israel’s history and was sometimes a pre -incarnate appearance of Jesus. Not only do angels appear in the Old and New Testaments, scripture describes their being with Jesus at the Last Judgment. Not all angels are heavenly though. Satan and his minions fell from heaven when Satan thought to make himself greater than God. Scripture clearly describes the awful eternal destiny of the fallen angels.

Taken from “Bible Wisdom for Your Life”, written and compiled by Pamela L. McQuade, Barbour Publishing

God’s restoring servants, His heavenly messengers, have encouraged, sustained, and lifted the spirits of many flagging saints; and they have changed many hopeless circumstances into bright prospects.

Billy Graham on angels

Prayer:  God of all, thank you for angels in which You have surrounded us and to help with Your work on earth.  Thank you also for the gift of Your Son.   Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-11-13

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name’

I think it is interesting to read how a song came to be written.  This devotion is from the book, 52 Hymn Story Devotions by Lucy Neeley Adams, Abingdon Press, Nashville.  While this is not a hymn one usually thinks of around Christmas time, it is about the life of our Lord Jesus.

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

“Signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”    Acts 4:30

If the Christian had just one anthem of praise, this would be it.  In every nation where it is sung, it speaks to the deep spiritual needs of all.  Someone has said, “As long as there are Christians on earth, this hymn will continue to be sung, and after that –  in heaven.”

The composer of the hymn was Edward Perronet, who was born in Sundridge, England, in 1726.  He was the son of a priest of the Church of England, and he, too, was ordained into that church.  Young Perronet, however, felt the church cold and too formal, and began to work with two Anglican priests, John and Charles Wesley, who were experiencing the same struggle.

They started preaching in the streets.  Soon many people who were searching for a deeper faith gathered in the open air to hear the fiery evangelists. 

The trio faced much persecution from those who disagreed with their ministry, sometimes even the threat of physical harm. John Wesley wrote in his diary:” Today Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire.”

But out of those times of distress came Perronet’s powerful testimony of praise: “All hail the power of Jesus’ name!”  That same power flowed into the lives of true believers in the early church.  Recorded in Acts 3 is the first miracle after Pentecost.  The healing of the lame man at the temple caused an uproar from the Jewish leaders who watched the miracle.  Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said, “ in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk” (Acts 3:6).  Instantly, the man leaped to his feet.  The rulers and elders of the Jews, fearing this message would spread as a result of this miracle, commanded the disciples “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18).

The disciples did not obey this order, but continued to preach in that powerful Name.  The results are astounding, as the gospel message has spread to millions throughout the centuries.

Lord Jesus, we crown you Lord of all.  Hallelujah. Amen.

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!

Let angels prostrate fall;

bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all.

Bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all.

Edward Perronet, 1779; alt. by John Rippon, 1787

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-13-12

From 52 Hymn Story Devotions, Lucy Neeley Adams, Abingdon Press, Nashville, comes this story of the hymn, "Go Tell It On The Mountain".

"You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain....Lift up your voice with a shout.....say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God!'" (Isa. 40:9, NIV)

The carolers in our town who sing from door to door often sound like a band of angels. One Christmas, in the midst of feverish preparations in the kitchen, I heard them on my front porch, singing one of my favorite hymns, "Go Tell It on the Mountain." " Go Tell It on the Mountain" was printed in a 1907 publication by Thomas Fenner, Original Folk songs of the Negro as Sung on the Plantation. It was then entitled "Christmas Plantation Song." The original verses have been deleted from modern hymnals.

Two verses were added by John W. Work, Jr., a history professor at Fisk University. His son, John W. Work, III, was the author of American Negro Songs and Spirituals(1940), which gives significant insights into the origins of the spirituals. He says, "Many of them were passed down from generation to generation, and after much singing, the texts and melodies varied from place to place. But the gospel message was always proclaimed."

The gospel message of Jesus is certainly proclaimed by those who sing this carol. We are reminded of his words in Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."

Our family will never forget the sermon my husband, Woody, preached on Christmas of 1994, "Where Does God Fit In?" A child had asked that question when he looked at the manager scene.

He had heard that God did something wonderful at Christmas, but he didn't see God in the manger.

Our son-in-law Edward, a nonbeliever, shared with us the good news of the birth of Jesus in his own heart. He joyfully said, "Life will never be the same again. I saw Dad's enthusiasm as he preached. Now I understand where God fits in. He was in the manger---as baby Jesus."

We were reminded that thousands of years ago the prophet Isaiah said, "Lift up your voice with a shout! Say, 'Here is your God!'" the glorious message never changes.

Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere:
go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

African American spiritual: adapt. by John W. Work, Jr., 1907

Submitted by
Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-6-11

"But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel." (Micah 5:2)

Hearing about Bethlehem is not the same as being a part of it. Reading about the birth of Jesus is not the same as worshiping in the Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve. These thoughts may well have been what went through Phillips Brooks's mind after his visit to the Holy Land in 1865. When he returned to Philadelphia and his pastorate at Holy Trinity Church, the heartwarming memories never ceased.

Several years later when he wanted a new song of Christmas for the children to sing at church, he reached back for inspiration to his Holy Land visit. The poem he wrote in 1868 painted the sights and sounds of the little town he had visited. What came from his heart was a Christmas carol that has lived to become a world wide favorite, "O Little Town of Bethlehem".

Brooks asked the church organist, Lewis Redner, to compose a simple melody for it. But nothing seemed to fit the mood of the melancholy words. One night, during a fretful sleep, Redner thought he heard music. Immediately he wrote the melody just as we sing it today. "I think it was a gift from heaven," Mr. Redner joyfully admitted.

Phillips Brooks was a beloved and respected evangelist. Born in Boston in 1825, and educated at Harvard, he became the bishop of the Boston area Episcopal churches. This giant of a man, who stood six feet, six inches tall, also had a big heart that endeared him to young and old alike. When he died unexpectedly at age fifty-eight, his extended family was overwhelmed with grief.
A child put his death in perspective. When told by her mother that Bishop Brooks had gone to heaven, the little girl simply replied, "Oh Mama, how happy the angels will be!"

Our Lord Emmanuel, thank you for coming to us and abiding with us. Amen.

'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, ca. 1868
52 Hymn Story Devotions by Lucy Neely Adams
Abingdon Press Nashville 2000

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-1-10

Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

WE DID IT!!! Two years ago, I wrote a devotional about the 'Corn Maze' in Milton, WV. My sister Judy, friend Sharon, Judy's grandson, my great-nephew, Alex and his friend Brandon, plodded our way through the Maze in the dark, with only a little led light I had on my key ring, to show us the way. Oh, yes, God did provide us with a three-quarter full moon.

We got lost, and thankfully Judy had her cell phone and Alex remembered the cell number to call for help, which we did and God provided. Mike Cooper, the owner of the maze, came to our rescue.

We planned on going back last year, 2009, but a rainy downfall came and drowned our plans. See, Alex was on his fall break from his school in Maryville, TN, and we could only go on a Thursday evening.

So, now it is 2010, and we wanted to redeem ourselves. So try again we did. The maze is only open Thursdays in the evening, 5:00-10:00 PM, and we knew it would get dark around 7:00 PM. With flashlights and cell phones in hand, we set out. Alex and Brandon, now 11 years old, got to go on their own as they wanted. (We mature women couldn't keep up with them anyway). Judy, Sharon, and I started out following the questions and hoping for the correct answer to know the correct direction to go when we got to a station. We were doing well except when we got to a fork in the path, and we had to decide if we were to go left or right. It was getting dark; I called on the cell phone to see what we do in that situation. All Kim Cooper would say is, 'there are pointers, signs, to point the way'. I kept asking, 'what pointers'. 'You will know', he would say. So, we began thinking about this and looking and sure enough, there are. I won't tell you the pointers, because you might go to a maze and need to find out for yourself. They are there, look.

John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-4-08

Readings: Micah 2:1-13; Luke 15:24

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Have you ever been to the Cornfield Maze in Milton, WV? I had always wanted to go, planned on going, but never got there or to any other, till this year.

I made the plans to get us in to the Maze. Us, being my 9 year old great nephew Alex and his friend Brandon, my sister Judy, my good friend Sharon, and myself. We arrived behind Milton Middle School and waited, like others, for the wagon to take us out to the cornfield. The ride out was fun, and Kim Cooper and all have quite a set up out there, with a concession stand and more.
We waited with unknown anticipation and then it came our turn. The corn was 'as high as an elephant's eye.’ We are not. The paths were well worn and bumpy to say the least. We also needed to watch for corn stalks and cobs on the ground. We got a paper with 10 questions to answer that would give us the direction to turn, left or right. Alex and Brandon begged to go on their own, but we begged them to stay with us; we needed their assistance. They ran along; we, being much older, plodded after. They would wait for us where the number for a clue was and we decided the answer and direction. Occasionally, we would run into another group, just as 'lost' as we were.

We went in around 6:30 PM and so was getting dark close to 7:30 PM. Did I think there would be lights of some sort? Yes. Were there? No. I had a little pen light and God provided us with a three quarter full moon, and that was all the light we had. Anyway, here we were, following the clues and Alex's instincts and LOST. We tramped around for so long, then used Judy's cell phone she had the foresight to stick in her pocket and the phone number Alex heard and remembered.

Soon, we heard a calling, LEWIS, LEWIS and we answered, HERE,HERE, until Kim Cooper found us. What a relief. We were SAVED. On our way home in the car, I said, "There must be a devotion here somewhere."

There is. How many times have I wandered, not knowing which way to turn and turned to God in prayer? How many times have I prayed, like that Oct. evening, to be found, and was? What a gift! What a blessing! Thank you, God, for Your saving Grace. Thank you for Your Son.
Will we go back again to the Corn Maze? Yes, but this time in the daylight and with flashlights just in case and with the belief that someone will rescue us even if we do not make all the correct turns. We know God and His Son are with us.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 1-4-08

Lectionary Reading: Hebrews 11:23-28, 32-40

Hebrews talks about faith. It is because of faith, this belief in God, that I pray.

My praying consists of bedtime, morning time, praying while driving alone with the radio off in the car, and a plea or thank you prayer here and there, among other times.I have heard of prayer journals and recently read of a prayer bag. I was reading the October 24,2007 entry of The Upper Room. It was written by Robin Priestley of New Mexico, whose friend gave her a "God Bag". It is a brown paper bag in which she wrote in purple ink, "Robin's God Bag". The instructions were to write concerns and worries on slips of paper and to put the slips in the bag.

I think this is such a good idea and hope to use it to help me focus on praying. I do believe I have ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, and most of the time I will begin praying and end up thinking about something else. I need to focus and am hoping a Prayer Journal or God Bag will aid me in doing such. I do have faith that prayer works and need all the help I can get. I have a lot to pray about these days.

With that in mind, let's pray.

Dear God, I know You know my thoughts and my heart. Please help me to focus and express my joys and concerns to you. Thank you for your Son in whose name I pray. Amen.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-7-04

Lectionary Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

In the lectionary reading, God gives comfort to His people. A portion of this comfort is telling of the coming of Christ.

During the 2004 calendar year, the United Methodist Women has been celebrating 135 years of mission service.

In 1869 an organization named the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church responded to God’s call to provide health care and education for women and girls in India. During the years, the Society and Methodist Church made changes and evolved into different names. The Society is now the United Methodist Women, 1972, of the United Methodist Church.

The wording of the PURPOSE has been expanded over the years, but the meaning has remained:

“The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God, and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of church.”
I believe God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to comfort us and to entrust us, as people of Christ, to do the same to others.

Prayer: Ever-living and loving God, we thank You for Your Son, and pray You will strengthen our faith in giving time and talents to minister to the needs of the hurt, the disadvantaged and alienated in Your world. Amen.

‘Information was gathered and used from the 2004 Program Book, for United Methodist Women.’

Kay Lewis