I've had an Epiphany!

Artwork: The preaching of Saint John the Baptist Artist: Cornelis van Haarlem Date: 1602 Worship Theme: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near! The Forerunner prepares for the coming Christ by preaching repentance that brings renewal of life. The Root of Jesse will come in swift judgment on the unrepentant but in mercy and grace for God’s people. His coming will end the wickedness of the world and usher in a new age restored to the perfection with which God made it. Old Testament:   Isaiah 11:1-10 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2  The Spirit of the  Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the  Lord — 3  and he will delight in the fear of the  Lord . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4...

Isaiah 2:1-5 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2  In the last days the mountain of the  Lord ’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3  Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the  Lord , to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the  Lord  from Jerusalem. 4  He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5  Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the  Lord . At the North Garden of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, th...

Christ In Our Home Devotions Second Sunday in Advent The kingdom of heaven is near 1. Make the sign of the cross over yourself and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 2. Pray Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer: I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. 3. Pray the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father...

Luke 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14  Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”  15  Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16  And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.  17  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18  “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.  19  And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21  “This i...

Artwork: Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares Artist: A sculpture by Evgeniy Vuchetich United Nations Building, New York City Worship Theme: Keep watch for the unexpected coming of Christ! Its unexpectedness, however, does not change its certainty or our prayer. Rather, the coming of Christ defines our present time because we know that he comes with unexpected judgment on the unbelieving world and unexpected grace for his people. We are filled with hope, with love, and with light. With anticipation in our hearts, we long for the fulfillment, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2  In the last days the mountain of the  Lord ’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3  Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the  Lord , to the templ...