“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” ~~~ Isaiah 40:31

Hanging On To The Past

It is fun to reminisce about the past. We can fantasize about how things used to be (forgetting the problems) and wonder why things can’t be like that now.

This picture is a castle in Wales that belonged to one if my ancestors. It was destroyed after my ancestor killed the King (not a wise thing to do!).

I can think about what it would be like if we still owned a Welsh Castle. It’s located in a beautiful countryside and I can spend hours thinking about “what if…”. In reality those visions can interfere with the gifts of the present. God meets us in the now and invites us to live this day in God’s Presence.

The anticipation of Jesus’ birth reminds us to let go of the past, the joys and problems, and by the Grace of God grab hold of today and eagerly face the future that God is opening for us.

Prayer for Advent Peace (based on Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.): In my praying this day, I will think about the Messengers of Light in my life and write a note of gratitude to one of them. Amen.

Clyde V., Boulder Creek United Methodist Church

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ~~~ Luke 2:12

The message of the angels to the startled shepherds was simple enough…”you shall find a child…”

All the possibilities of our full humanity are in each newborn infant…”the hopes and fears of all our years.”

And once we have found that baby, we must never stray from protecting, loving, nurturing, following…wherever the love of that child that may lead.

Prayer for Advent Peace (Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.): I pray that I will search my heart for peace, and dislodge the inner tyrants that reside in me, opening myself up fully to you, O God! Amen.

Darrell & Karen D. and all our children, United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.” ~~~ Matthew 2:1-2

Have you driven through a long and dark tunnel? I do not like tunnels, because the darkness makes me scared. I often hold hands with others in the darkness. When I visited the Zion National Park, I needed to drive through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. There is no light in the tunnel, like the above photo. I could not take the photo very well. You might feel how scared I was via this unfocused photo. All I could rely on was holding my wife’s hands and the front car lights that my vehicle projected. It felt like more than a half hour to drive, but there was an end of the tunnel.

This reminds me of the journey of the wise men from the East. They moved at night, because they followed the star. To see the star well, ironically, they needed the darkness. We cannot see the stars during the day, as it is so bright. They might be afraid of the moving at night, or the journey of the foreign country. However, three wise men moved bravely together for this journey of uncertainty. They followed the star with a hope to see the child, even though they had a lot of unknowns. As we all know, at the end, the wise men celebrated the birth of Jesus.

We do not know exactly when this pandemic will end. However, for this journey of the unknown, we can be together bravely like the wise men. We can be together even more smartly via smart devices, unlike the wise men. They were wise, and we are smart as well as wise! Furthermore, we can still follow the star, the light of Christ, which gives us hope and love. At the end of this darkness, we will celebrate together with joy when we meet each other face-to-face!

Prayer for Advent Hope (Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.): I will bring into my prayer and my heart, hope, for someone who is hurting right now. Amen.

Hwapyoung K., Gilroy United Methodist Church

~ Psalm 100 ~

As we sit here in our apartment under the Covid quarantine, and unable to leave the room to visit family and friends, we find comfort in God’s love and listen to his council. We have time to spend resting, listening, and reading about the prophecy of the birth of Jesus and teachings. This is the season we call Advent. He taught us through psalms and parables. His teachings have been carried on until the present day and will continue forever. Jesus tells us not to be afraid, that he will be with us always. Love and mercy will be with us always. Love and help your neighbor, not only those that live next door, but those whom you don’t know. Rejoice and be glad.

Prayer for Advent Hope (Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.): Gracious God, we pray for the part of us that needs God’s light of hope to shine more fully within it. Amen.

Donn and Ruth W., United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz

Preparing the Way for Christmas with Advent Calendar 2020

Thanksgiving Weekend as we start to “Get Ready”

“. . . What does our Creator God require of you . . . to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.”   ~~~ Micah 6:8

We are excited to announce that in this Pandemic Year, as we ready ourselves for Christmas, we will join with the United Methodist Churches in our area to walk with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  Just as Joseph and Mary needed to travel for the Census in that year, so we have completed our census, and now in this unusual year, we look once again with hope, peace, joy and love to the birth of the Light of the World, Jesus!  We are so in need of healing … from the pandemic, from racial strife, and from all the forms of injustice that continue to plague our communities, our nation, and our world. 

We invite you to journey with us, beginning on December 1^st through Christmas, as we share an Advent Calendar from our hearts.  Each day there will be a meditation that will speak to our journey toward new life. 

Join us, won’t you, as we prepare room in our hearts, our lives, and our world, for the one who taught us to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with God.  Each congregation will share this Advent Calendar; please check with the United Methodist Church in your community.  

Gracious God … we pray for your light to shine in and through our lives.  Empower us to make room for the gift of life in Jesus and empower us to open our hearts to love our neighbors as we love you.  Amen!

Pastor Jay, Santa Cruz, on behalf of Pastors Clyde (Boulder Creek), Gabe (Aptos), Hwapyoung (Gilroy), Karla (Hollister), Patrick (Morgan Hill), and Robin (Watsonville).