Category: Online Devotional

Corona Sabbath 40 Fourth Sunday of Advent LOVE

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group.  They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations.  We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

The post this week focuses on the theme for the fourth Sunday of Advent – Love. 

This post includes a scripture reading from Jim Andrews, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video by Hilton Jones.    We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside.  Light a candle.  Take a look around you.   Breathe.  Life-giving breath.   Be present. 

You may begin with this reading, Virgin of the Sign:

She looks upon you
 She looks beyond you
 She looks through
        your soul
     and into the 
       Eternity
   behind your soul.
  
 Suddenly she is a Mirror
               of
           Eternity
           Dwelling
               in 
 Your own fragile flesh.
  
--Suzanne Guthrie

When you are ready, start the video below

(For written text of the above video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music that follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you. 

In closing, you are invited to offer the following closing reading:

“We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time and my culture?”

Meister Eckhart, 14th century

Breathe.  Breathe again.  Be filled.  With love.   Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

  • Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

Corona Sabbath 39 JOY

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group.  They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations.  We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

The post this week focuses on the theme for the third Sunday of Advent – joy.  

This post includes a scripture reading from Claire Stiles, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video by Hilton Jones.    We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside.  Light a candle.  Take a look around you.   Breathe.  Life-giving breath.   Be present.  

You may begin with this reading:

 Bright star-maker God,
 travel with us
 through Advent
 

 shine into our 
 dark corners
 

 lead us into 
 ways of justice
 

 warm us 
 with joy and wonder
 

 bring us 
 to new birth.

--Ruth Burgess

When you are ready, start the video below. 

(For written text of the above video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music that follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you.  

In closing, you are invited to offer the following closing reading:

 All the broken hearts
 shall rejoice:
 all those who are heavy laden,
 whose eyes are tired
 and do not see,
 shall be lifted up
 to meet with 
 the motherly healer.
 The battered souls and bodies
 shall be healed;
 the hungry
 shall be fed;
 the imprisoned 
 shall be free;
 all her earthly children
 shall regain joy
 in the reign
 of the just and loving one
 coming for you
 coming for me
 in this time
 in this world.
 
 --Sun Ai Lee Park, Hong Kong/USA

Breathe.  Breathe again.  Be filled.  With joy.   Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

  • Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

Corona Sabbath 38 Second Sunday of Advent PEACE

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group.  They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations.  We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

The post this week focuses on the theme for the second Sunday of Advent – peace.  

This post includes a scripture reading from Sue Sherwood, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video by Hilton Jones.    We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside.  Light a candle.  Take a look around you.   Breathe.  Life-giving breath.   Be present.  

Bright God of Advent:
Blaze in our darkness.
Incinerate our iniquity.
Light up our road.

Riddle the ashes
of our desires.
Rekindle in us
your justice and love.

–Ruth Burgess

When you are ready, start the video below.  

(For written text of the above video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music that follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you. 

In closing, you are invited to offer the following closing reading:

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”

–Thomas Merton, 20th century

Breathe.  Breathe again.  Be filled.  With peace.   Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

  • Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

Corona Sabbath 37 First Sunday of Advent HOPE

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group.  They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations.  We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

The post this week focuses on the theme for the first Sunday of Advent – hope.  

This post includes a scripture reading, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video by Hilton Jones.    We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside.  Light a candle.  Take a look around you.   Breathe.  Life-giving breath.   Be present.  

You may begin with this reading:

“It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them.”

–George Eliot, 19th century

When you are ready, start the video/audio below.  

(For written text of the above video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music that follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you.  

In closing, you are invited to read the following poem –

Out in a downpour
in a sopping wet
skirt.
And you have gone to a distant country.
Unbearable heart,
letter after letter
just asking when,
my lord, when
are you coming?

–Mirabai c.1498-c.1565
trans. Andrew Schelling

Breathe.  Breathe again.  Be filled.  With longing.   Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

  • Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

Corona Sabbath 36 GIVE THANKS!

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group.  They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations.  We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

The post this week focuses on the spiritual discipline of Thanksgiving.  

This post includes a scripture reading done by Jim Andrews, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video created by Hilton Jones featuring pictures submitted by the congregation of things to be thankful for.   We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times.  

You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside.  Light a candle.  Take a look around you.   Breathe.  Life-giving breath.   Be present.  

You may begin by reading this poem:

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

–e. e. cummings

When you are ready, start the video/audio below. 

(For written text of the above video click HERE.)

The following video is a collection of pictures submitted by some of the parishioners of Lakewood UCC accompanied by a soundtrack of Hilton playing Great is Thy Faithfulness.

You are invited to offer the following closing –

When each day
is sacred

when each hour
is sacred

when each instant
is sacred

earth and you
space and you
bearing the sacred
through time

you’ll reach
the fields of light.

–Guillevic, French poet

Breathe.  Breathe again.  Be filled.  With thanksgiving.   Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

  • Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

 

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS: