Advent Devotions

2021 Advent Devotions Luke 2:1-20 | December 25, 2021 The Meaning of Christmas for Me by Ed Pruden Merry Christmas! The magic never fades! This is my 71st Christmas. I have memories of the previous 69! My earliest Christmas memory is as a two-year-old, sitting in a...

2021 Advent Devotions Philippians 2:5-11 | December 24, 2021 The Form of a Servant by Rob & Bettina Sandford “Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be...

2021 Advent Devotions Luke 1:46-55 | December 23, 2021 Magnificat by Ron Crawford Illiterate commoners shouted, “Magnificat, Magnificat;” thus encouraging the priest to read aloud what we know as Luke 1:46-55, The Song of Mary. This text was a favorite of peasants in...

2021 Advent Devotions Psalm 113 | December 22, 2021 Continuous Praise by Shawn Ryan My great aunt, Sister Mary Michael Ryan, OSU, passed away in 1997 at one of her order’s convents and schools in Wilmington, Delaware. My father and I took the road trip to the memorial...

2021 Advent Devotions Colossians 1:15-20 | December 21, 2021 The Fullness of God by Judy Morris The incarnation of God is beyond our complete understanding. Sometimes when we see a son or daughter who looks like a parent or grandparent, we might say he or she is the...

2021 Advent Devotions Psalm 80:1-3, 14-19 | December 20, 2021 A Sorrowful Prayer by Emily Tuck Psalm 80 begins by addressing God as the shepherd of Israel. It reminds us of our beloved Psalm 23 that affirms that the Lord is our shepherd. We are comfortable with this...

2021 Advent Devotions Micah 5:2-5a | December 19, 2021 Bethlehem by Bill Tuck Micah’s promise of a new ruler coming from the town of Bethlehem is a familiar theme to Christians in the Advent season. Bethlehem was the hometown of King David and was predicted to be the...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 42:10-18 | December 18, 2021 Sing to the Lord a New Song! by Emily Sumner Sing to the Lord a new song! What a refreshing call to action after a difficult almost-two years now for our society and world. In verses 10-12 of this passage,...

2021 Advent Devotions Psalm 25:1-10 | December 17, 2021 David’s Prayer by Bert Browning This very personal prayer is attributed to David, who seems to be the rock star of Hebrew song writing. In its passionate lyrics David opens his heart and soul to God and,...

2021 Advent Devotions Jeremiah 31:31-34 | December 16, 2021 A New Covenant by David Elliot One recurring burden of adulthood is the need to enter into contracts. Mortgages, car loans, business agreements—all require each party to concur with the terms of the accord or...

2021 Advent Devotions Philippians 4:4-7 | December 15, 2021 Rejoice in the Lord Always by Bette Schwall We continue our Advent journey focusing on four verses from the book of Philippians. These are words Paul wrote to his Christian friends. Paul, himself, was in...

2021 Advent Devotions Philippians 1:3-11 | December 14, 2021 Joy and Hope by Vivian Clingenpeel When I looked at the passages available for writing an advent devotional, I found that these verses gave me a sense of joy and hope, so I eagerly signed up to spend time...

2021 Advent Devotions Zephaniah 3:14-20 | December 13, 2021 The Perfect Gift by Scott Leake For years my Sunday School class, the Life Class, has reveled in a Christmas party tradition. After the covered dish dinner, the white elephant or Yankee swap begins. We each...

2021 Advent Devotions Luke 1:68-79 | December 12, 2021 What Does Peace Look Like? by Beth Rooney What does peace look like for you? Is it when your to-do list is finished? Is it when you are free from obligations? Or perhaps is it when you feel comforted after a...

2021 Advent Devotions Luke 1:57-66 | December 11, 2021 The Birth of John the Baptist by Karen Collier It’s a big decision, choosing a name for a child, isn’t it? As friends and family come to celebrate the blessing of the child of Elizabeth and Zechariah, they assume...

2021 Advent Devotions Amos 9:9-15 | December 10, 2021 Finally, A Word of Hope by Tom Graves The prophet Amos appeared about 760 BC in the northern kingdom of Israel, a proud and prosperous nation whose peace and prosperity were seen as a sign of God’s blessing and...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 12:2-6 | December 9, 2021 Sing Praises to the Lord by Rose Browning My father loved music, especially songs from his past-favorite gospel hymns sung in his church as a youth and songs from the 1940’s, particularly WWII. He was thrilled...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 35:3-7 | December 8, 2021 Three Transformations by Martha Lou Green In the Bible reading from Isaiah today, we hear of three things that experience amazing transformations—‘wow!’ There are three kinds of changes, transformations that show...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 11:1-9 | December 7, 2021 Wondrous Images by Nancy Brown A wondrous vision of images exists in Isaiah 11:1-9. Picture first a shoot in a stump from which has sprouted a branch from roots representing the genealogy from Jesse, King David’s...

2021 Advent Devotions Psalm 126 | December 6, 2021 Finding Joy in Difficult Times by Elizabeth Thorne Christmas is coming! For me, it is the most exciting part of the year. I have always loved Advent. It meant a time of joy, laughter, thanksgiving, and family....

2021 Advent Devotions John 1:1-18 | December 5, 2021 The True Light by Raj Chatterjea Being invited to write a devotional is a gift! What a perfect way to prepare for Advent (and my new Deaconship)! Thank you. When asked to select a scripture reading from the...

2021 Advent Devotions Luke 1:5-17 | December 4, 2021 Expecting a Miracle by Dean Miller Have you ever experienced something absolutely amazing in the midst of your everyday routine? Something happens and it just overwhelms you beyond words? There are times when we...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 40:28-31 | December 3, 2021 Finding Rest by Meg Rooney I am tired. I am weary. It’s that time of the year where college students are at a breaking point. Final projects, papers, and exams are on the horizon; it is almost the end of the...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 40:6-11 | December 2, 2021 Behold Your God! by Jane Terry Isaiah 40:6-11 (KJV): “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up...

2021 Advent Devotions Isaiah 40:1-5 | December 1, 2021 Handel’s Messiah by Roy Terry Handel’s Messiah is among the most widely beloved of all sacred choral works. German born in 1685, Handel moved to England as an adult, where he became known as a composer of Italian...

2021 Advent Devotions II Samuel 7:18-29 | November 30, 2021 Nevertheless by Lacey Wondree I was frequently told that I would know what unconditional love was once I had children. And then I had children. When I held my firstborn and then later my twins, I felt a new...

2021 Advent Devotions Psalm 90:1-2, 14-17 | November 29, 2021 Who Created God? by Mike Clingenpeel Not long ago a theological conversation broke out between my five-year-0ld grandson and me. For a change I was trying to play the role of serious, not silly, Pops, so to...

2021 Advent Devotions Jeremiah 33:14-16 | November 28, 2021 Wait and Hope by Dan Bagby Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NEB): “Wait, says the Lord, the days are coming when I will bestow on Israel and Judah all the blessings I have promised them. In those days, at that time, I will...