Fourth Week of Advent
Ordinary, Called to Be Extraordinary
Dream Weaver
Read Matthew 1:18-25
The story of Joseph, found in the Gospel according to Matthew, is a story about a man who was faced with a difficult decision. It was a real dilemma. When he found out that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant, he could have had her publicly shamed. Instead, he chose to save her honor by quietly divorcing her. It was a tough decision, but Joseph chose the way of integrity. Joseph was a regular man living according to the law, but in a dream, he heard God’s message that the truly right thing to do was to keep Mary and serve as her husband and as her protector, and as the protector of the child. It was a tough choice, but he listened to God and found himself with an extraordinary responsibility, to safeguard the very person who would reveal God to all people. When we are faced with a difficult decision, are we willing to choose the way of God, even if it is the way contrary to what others expect?
Christmas
Ordinary, Called to Be Extraordinary
Sing a New Song
Read Luke 2:8-20
They were ordinary people just doing their job, but the shepherds were called to an extraordinary responsibility. Shepherding is considered a very low station in life, and working with the flock in the field would keep them on the fringe of society, beyond reach of the latest news. Yet, it is the shepherds who are the first to receive the news about the birth of Jesus, the anointed one. Wow, this was such great news!! It was so great that they had to go see for themselves, and just as the angel had told them, they found the baby, the child who would be their Savior. This was such amazing news that they spread the word. People were in awe of what the shepherds shared. Sometimes the most important information comes from the most unlikely sources.
Ordinary, Called to Be Extraordinary
Dream Weaver
Read Matthew 1:18-25
The story of Joseph, found in the Gospel according to Matthew, is a story about a man who was faced with a difficult decision. It was a real dilemma. When he found out that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant, he could have had her publicly shamed. Instead, he chose to save her honor by quietly divorcing her. It was a tough decision, but Joseph chose the way of integrity. Joseph was a regular man living according to the law, but in a dream, he heard God’s message that the truly right thing to do was to keep Mary and serve as her husband and as her protector, and as the protector of the child. It was a tough choice, but he listened to God and found himself with an extraordinary responsibility, to safeguard the very person who would reveal God to all people. When we are faced with a difficult decision, are we willing to choose the way of God, even if it is the way contrary to what others expect?
Christmas
Ordinary, Called to Be Extraordinary
Sing a New Song
Read Luke 2:8-20
They were ordinary people just doing their job, but the shepherds were called to an extraordinary responsibility. Shepherding is considered a very low station in life, and working with the flock in the field would keep them on the fringe of society, beyond reach of the latest news. Yet, it is the shepherds who are the first to receive the news about the birth of Jesus, the anointed one. Wow, this was such great news!! It was so great that they had to go see for themselves, and just as the angel had told them, they found the baby, the child who would be their Savior. This was such amazing news that they spread the word. People were in awe of what the shepherds shared. Sometimes the most important information comes from the most unlikely sources.