On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we look to the coming of Christmas, we see how Mary anticipated the birth of Christ through the words of the Magnificat. We ask ourselves how our Christmas celebrations compare to her own expectations of what the coming of the Christ child meant then and means now.
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we look to the coming of Christmas, we see how Mary anticipated the birth of Christ through the words of the Magnificat. We ask ourselves how our Christmas celebrations compare to her own expectations of what the coming of the Christ child meant then and means now.
On this Third Sunday of Advent we seek to hear the words of John through first-century ears and find the good news that he proclaims.
On this Third Sunday of Advent we seek to hear the words of John through first-century ears and find the good news that he proclaims.
On this Second Sunday of Advent, as we light the candle of peace, we look to see what it means to speak of Jesus as Prince of Peace and how we can be agents of peace in a troubled world.
On this Second Sunday of Advent, as we light the candle of peace, we look to see what it means to speak of Jesus as Prince of Peace and how we can be agents of peace in a troubled world.
On this First Sunday of Advent, we explore the nature of hope as we wait, both for the celebration of Christ's birth and for the fulfillment of his promised Kingdom. We see how hope is based on the faithfulness of God, manifest as God's steadfast love and made real in the new covenant and the coming Kingdom.
On this First Sunday of Advent, we explore the nature of hope as we wait, both for the celebration of Christ's birth and for the fulfillment of his promised Kingdom. We see how hope is based on the faithfulness of God, manifest as God's steadfast love and made real in the new covenant and the coming Kingdom.
on this Christ the King Sunday we complete our exploration of the Kingdom of God by considering the nature of love and its relationship to both neighbors and strangers.
on this Christ the King Sunday we complete our exploration of the Kingdom of God by considering the nature of love and its relationship to both neighbors and strangers.
As we seek to understand the nature of the Kingdom of God, we see how Jesus acts among the less fortunate at the intersection of mercy and grace, modelling for us a way of life that helps to make the Kingdom a present reality wherever we might be.
As we seek to understand the nature of the Kingdom of God, we see how Jesus acts among the less fortunate at the intersection of mercy and grace, modelling for us a way of life that helps to make the Kingdom a present reality wherever we might be.
As we work towards a greater understanding of the Kingdom of God, we come to consider the role of unity, especially unity of the Spirit, among the people of God and its centrality to the nature of the Kingdom.
As we work towards a greater understanding of the Kingdom of God, we come to consider the role of unity, especially unity of the Spirit, among the people of God and its centrality to the nature of the Kingdom.
As look at the attributes of the Kingdom of God we come to see justice as something we do, not simply something we discuss, and as something that involves the specific, individual people whom we encounter. The call to justice is a call to action.
As look at the attributes of the Kingdom of God we come to see justice as something we do, not simply something we discuss, and as something that involves the specific, individual people whom we encounter. The call to justice is a call to action.
As we look at the characteristics of the Kingdom, we consider the difference between the concepts of ownership and trusteeship, and how Jesus taught trusteeship to his followers.
As we look at the characteristics of the Kingdom, we consider the difference between the concepts of ownership and trusteeship, and how Jesus taught trusteeship to his followers.
As we think about the characteristics of the Kingdom, we today examine servanthood and what Jesus taught about servanthood through his words and deeds, many of which invert the expected social structure of the day and call for extravagant selflessness and the exercise of compassion.
As we think about the characteristics of the Kingdom, we today examine servanthood and what Jesus taught about servanthood through his words and deeds, many of which invert the expected social structure of the day and call for extravagant selflessness and the exercise of compassion.
In the narrative of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well we see how Jesus symbolically re-establishes the broken covenant community of Israel by reuniting the north and the south through his outreach in Samaria. He accomplishes this through a long and complex conversation with a woman of little regard in her day. The importance of conversation and community is highlighted in this important narrative.
In the narrative of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well we see how Jesus symbolically re-establishes the broken covenant community of Israel by reuniting the north and the south through his outreach in Samaria. He accomplishes this through a long and complex conversation with a woman of little regard in her day. The importance of conversation and community is highlighted in this important narrative.
As we explore the teachings of Jesus on the Kingdom, we encounter many parables in which we are shown what the Kingdom is "like." We see how Jesus' many teachings counter the values of his own society, leading us to think counter-culturally about our own.
As we explore the teachings of Jesus on the Kingdom, we encounter many parables in which we are shown what the Kingdom is "like." We see how Jesus' many teachings counter the values of his own society, leading us to think counter-culturally about our own.
As we discuss values, vision and mission, we begin to think about the nature of the unity we celebrate in communion through the one loaf and in community through our communal work together.
As we discuss values, vision and mission, we begin to think about the nature of the unity we celebrate in communion through the one loaf and in community through our communal work together.
Looking back on life can be helpful when done reflectively but can become a problem when we create illusory "good old days" that never really existed. We see this issue acted out in the narrative of the Exodus and cautioned against in Ecclesiastes.
Looking back on life can be helpful when done reflectively but can become a problem when we create illusory "good old days" that never really existed. We see this issue acted out in the narrative of the Exodus and cautioned against in Ecclesiastes.
Our ability to assess our fears can be skewed by many factors and this imperfect assessment may lead us to poor choices. We look to the tools available to us in Scripture, tradition, reason and experience for guidance.
Our ability to assess our fears can be skewed by many factors and this imperfect assessment may lead us to poor choices. We look to the tools available to us in Scripture, tradition, reason and experience for guidance.
