Love

Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A 

 

 

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But 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. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Annunciation to the Shepherds

VOGELER, Heinrich

1902

Haus im Schluh

Worpswede

Germany

 

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20191220185997241&code=act&RC=56750&Row=26

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most beautiful people we have known are those 

who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, 

and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity

and an understanding of life that fills them with

compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

 

 

 

Sunday, December 16, 2019

We here in Colorado were not happy with the Bronco/Kansas City game,

but Charles Rose’s sons, Chance and Chaz, loved it!

Chance turned 13 this week!

(He loved the snowflakes on his nose.)

 

 

Jackie Andrew celebrated her 92nd birthday at church last Sunday.

 

Painted Toe Art Society’s Christmas Party

at Linda Bradford’s new home at Covenant Living of Colorado

Pat Foster, Nancy Priest, Johanna Morrell, Suzi Williamson

 

Jackie McFarland

 

Ellen Jones, Carolyn Martyn, Terrey Harrod

 

Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club

Blackbird Cafe and Tavern

Kittredge, Colorado

A lovely time and raucous white elephant exchange.

 

Kathi and Tom LaTourette

 

Loie Belknap Evans, Carolyn Alexander

Loie and her brother publish the Belknap River Guides

https://www.amazon.com/Belknaps-Waterproof-Canyonlands-River-Guide/dp/0916370178

 

 

Lunch with Anna Marie Nelson at Tuscany Tavern.

George, Anna Marie’s husband, is doing amazingly well following his surgery

last April for pancreatic cancer.

 

Jimmy and Robyn Mangham, my next-door neighbors, 

hosted our Homeowners’ Party at the Wild Game.

 

JAK got to go for a shampoo and haircut!

 

Don’t you love his Christmas tie?

 

Our Afternoon Book Club celebrated Christmas

at Keys on the Green.

 

Marty and Don Unger were our gracious hosts.

 

 

There is no Skate the Lake on New Year’s Eve this year since the bridge to

the Lakehouse is under construction.  Instead, the Chamber of Commerce

is putting on an alcohol-free Giant Street Festival on the north side of the lake with

fireworks over the lake at eight o’clock.

 

Tim Grace modeling his Ugly Sweater Day attire at Rotary.

 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

 

 

 

 

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet
    The words repeat 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
    Had rolled along
    The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
    A voice, a chime,
    A chant sublime 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
    And with the sound 
    The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! 

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
    And made forlorn
    The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
    "For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

https://poets.org/poem/christmas-bells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 22, 2019  Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A

 

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1-7

 

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy to the World!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/babasteve/31844535845/

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Hanukkah!

December 22 ~ December 30

 

 

Santa putting last minute touches on some of his goodies.

Painting by Tom Newsom, a member of our Tuesday Morning Breakfast group.

https://www.newsomart.com/gallery.php?gallery=6

 

 

      

     

 

Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

 

Christmas Eve:

Isaiah 9:2-7 

Psalm 96 

Titus 2:11-14 

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 7:10-16

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted."

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Give ear,
   O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph
   like a flock!
You who are enthroned
   upon the cherubim,

shine forth before Ephraim
   and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
   and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
   let your face shine,
that we may be saved.

O Sovereign God of hosts,
   how long will you be angry
with your people's prayers?

You have fed them
   with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink
   in full measure.

You make us the scorn
   of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh
   among themselves.

Restore us,
   O God of hosts;
let your face shine,
   that we may be saved.

But let your hand be upon the one
   at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong
   for yourself.

Then we will never turn back
   from you;
give us life,
   and we will call on your name.

Restore us,
   O Sovereign God of hosts;
let your face shine,
   that we may be saved.

Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,"
which means, "God is with us."

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.