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Advent Devotional 2022

for the week of December 18


This is the fourth devotional in our Advent series featuring poetry from Ann Weems’ Kneeling in Bethlehem, with commentary by Terry Ley and our pastoral staff.

 

Preparing to Kneel in Bethlehem


This Christmas, let us give thanks to God

  for this man of incredible faith

  into whose care God placed the Christ Child. 


If my memory serves me well, I always placed Mary and the babe in the manger at the front of our creche when I was a child. The donkey, the cow, and the sheep stood nearby. Three Wise Men, a shepherd, and an angel stood outside, looking in. 


Joseph stood back of the main players, well inside the shelter, in the shadows.


In today’s poem from Kneeling in Bethlehem, Ann Weems urges us to bring Joseph forward, where he belongs.


She is right, for Joseph is a low-profile hero of Advent. Weems imagines fatherly behaviors that are not a part of the Bible’s nativity narrative. However, biblical accounts do portray Joseph as a faithful, kind, and self-sacrificing father. Fearing Herod’s threat, Joseph escaped with Mary and Jesus to Egypt and then returned to Galilee. He and Mary sought Jesus for three days before finding him sitting among teachers of the law. Sustained by Joseph’s work, “the carpenter’s son” grew in “wisdom and stature.” 


Joseph is never mentioned in stories of Jesus’ adult ministry, leading some to believe that he died before Jesus reached adulthood.


No biblical account records any words that Joseph spoke.


What we do learn about Joseph, according to one account, is that he was “a humble man who faithfully obeyed God, honored others, took responsibility, and worked hard to provide for his family…godly characteristics that we should seek to replicate.”


As a gesture of gratitude,

  let’s put Joseph in the front of the stable

 where he can guard and greet

  and cast an occasional glance

    at this Child

     who brought us life.


 Terry Ley



Getting to the Front of the Stable 

Ann Weems


Who put Joseph in the back of the stable?

 Who dressed him in brown, put a staff in his hand,

  and told him to stand in the back of the crèche,

  background for the magnificent light of the Madonna?


God-chosen, this man Joseph was faithful

  in spite of the gossip in Nazareth,

  in spite of the danger from Herod. 

 This man, Joseph, listened to angels 

  and it was he who named the Child

  Emmanuel. 

 Is this a man to be stuck for centuries

  in the back of the stable?

 Actually, Joseph probably stood in the doorway 

  guarding the mother and child

  or greeting shepherds and kings. 

 When he wasn’t in the doorway,

  he was probably urging Mary to get some rest,

  gently covering her with his cloak,

  assuring her that he would watch the Child. 

 Actually, he probably picked the Child up in his arms

  and walked him in the night,

  patting him lovingly

  until he closed his eyes. 


This Christmas, let us give thanks to God

  for this man of incredible faith

  into whose care God placed the Christ Child. 

 As a gesture of gratitude,

  let’s put Joseph in the front of the stable

 where he can guard and greet

  and cast an occasional glance

    at this Child

     who brought us life.


For Reflection:


Scripture 

Matthew 1:18-25

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 


Questions

  • Who are some of the "low-profile heroes" of your own Advent story?
  • How might we honor these individuals and the gifts they offer that too often go unnoticed?



Prayer 

Lord thank you for your servant Joseph, who reminds us that faithfulness often requires humility, courage, and a willingness to follow your call even when we do not understand. Amen.


A downloadable copy of this devotional can be found here.

The Advent Season Has Begun


Upcoming Highlights



Sunday, December 18

5pm - Longest Night Service (Chapel) 

Even in the midst of Advent joy, it is important to find space to grieve. Our longest night service offers a place for any who would like to reflect on loved ones lost, hold space for sadness, or simply just be. This brief service will include a time of lighting candles for those no longer with us.


Looking Ahead


Christmas Eve Schedule: 5pm - Communion & Candlelight Service


Christmas Day & New Year's Day: One service - 11am; no Sunday School


For a full list of activities taking place during our Advent and Christmas season, check out www.fpcauburn.org/advent or download a printable schedule here.

11am Worship Service: Lay Readers Needed in 2023!


We are in need of individuals of all ages to serve as lay readers in the new year at our 11am worship service. Use the sign up genius link HERE to reserve a Sunday and you will be contacted the week of with more details from one of our pastors. Families are encouraged to sign up youth and children to participate in this ministry, and we are glad to help accommodate any special needs. 

This Week at FPC


Sunday, December 18

9 a.m. - Worship with communion in the chapel

9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages

11 a.m. - Worship in the sanctuary


Bulletin for December 18 worship


Sunday Parking Map

Church Office Holiday Schedule


The church office will be closed the week after Christmas including Monday, January 2, 2023. The Reeds are available for pastoral emergencies and the church’s email will be monitored during that time.

Session Notes

 

           During its in-person and Zoom online meeting on November 21, the Session…


·        learned that the church’s income for October 2022 was $55,797; expenses, $57,947; and net loss, -$2,150; for January through October 2022, income was $603,678; expenses, $603,438; and net income, $240;


·        received and discussed the Presbytery’s proposed budget for 2023;


·        heard commissioners Susan Fillippeli’s and Marianne Cone’s report on the Presbytery’s November 17 meeting at South Highland Presbyterian Church in Birmingham;


·        heard a progress report on this year’s stewardship campaign;


·        approved using approximately $1,000 of Capital Replacement funds to replace Kathy Reed’s laptop computer;


·        learned that Caroline Barnett was guest pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Eufaula on November 6 and contributed an entry to the annual UKirk Advent devotional publication written by Presbyterian campus ministers, students, and others working in university settings;


·        learned attendance at recent worship services: October 23, 141; October 30, 121; November 6, 164; November 13, 140; and November 20, 136.


Church members may read the complete, approved minutes for this meeting in the church office. The Session’s next stated meeting will be on Monday, December 19, at 6:15 p.m., either in person or via Zoom.

Children and Youth News


Children Pre-K through 5th grade


• Children’s Sunday school will meet Sunday, 10–10:45 in their 1st floor classrooms.

• Children’s Church: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st grade will go to the Preschool Room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.

• Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.


Jr. and Sr. High Youth


• Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school will meet in the Youth Lounge on the third floor this Sunday.

Birthdays


Dec. 21 - Rusty Cooper, Merilyn Hozer, Myla Ragan

Dec. 22 - Richard Guether

Dec. 23 - Gail Dillard

Dec. 24 - Lynda Tremaine


Anniversaries


Dec. 19 - John and Kathy Tamblyn

Dec. 21 - Jeffrey and Jennifer Stewart

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations


  • Prayers for Bonney Schowalter as she settles into a new home in Georgia so she can be closer to family. Bonney has been a faithful member to FPC Auburn for the last 44 years, and her presence and her compassion will be missed by so many. Her new address is:

Bonney Schowalter

In care of Lynn Schreiner

160 Rebel Rise

Fayetteville, GA 30215

  • Prayers for the Walkup Family as they gather in the coming weeks for a memorial service for Alice Walkup and Bob Walkup. Alice’s and Bob’s Memorial Service will be Wednesday, December 21, at 2pm in the church sanctuary.
  • Prayers of comfort for Marianne Cone and her family upon the death of her brother David.
  • Prayers of healing for Carolyn William’s sister Beverly Huey as she navigates health issues. Prayers for Carolyn as she cares for her sister.
  • Prayers of healing for Don Ball’s daughter Allison as she recovers from surgery. Prayers for Don as he cares for her.
  • Prayers of healing for Jessica Barnes’ father, Kit Bays, as he navigates health issues. Prayers for Jessica and all the Barnes family as they care for him.
  • Prayers of comfort for Liz Lindahl as she receives hospice care. We pray for strength and peace for her family as they surround Liz with love and care. 
  • Prayers of healing for Shannon Huggins as she continues to recover from successful surgery.
  • Prayers of healing for Hap Reeves who is now home continuing his rehabilitation treatment.
  • Prayers of healing for Jean Lancaster as she navigates some health issues. 
  • Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness, significant health issues, and grief, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name. Prayers of healing and comfort for many in our congregation.
  • Prayers of healing for Luann McQueen’s sister Carolyn Callahan. Carolyn has been transferred to Columbus for care.
  • Prayers of healing for Catherine Wolfe’s father, Ned Wolfe as he recovers from successful surgery. 
  • Prayers for Evert Duin’s mother, Nel Landzaad, after some recent health issues. Nel lives in the Netherlands, so we pray for the Duin family who care for and love her from afar. 
  • Prayers for Tripp Hinkle’s mother as she receives treatment for cancer.
  • Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor’s friends the Rev. Mitzi Lesher-Thomas and her husband the Rev. Troy Thomas. Mitzi has glioblastoma brain cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy.
  • Prayers for Amy Kilner and her family (daughter in law of Dorothy Moran). Amy is in need of a kidney transplant and is currently looking for a donor.
  • Prayers of healing for Jason Banks (Margaret Brinkley’s neighbor). Jason is now back at work. However is recovering from successful shoulder surgery.
First Presbyterian Church |info@fpcauburn.org | (334)887-5571 | www.fpcauburn.org
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