Mary Did You Know?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby you kiss the face of God

Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Did you know?
Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding is the great, I Am

Mary, did you know? (Mary, did you know?)
Mary, did you know? (Mary, did you know?)
Mary, did you know? Oh

Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Greene Lee Rufus / Lowry Mark Alan
Mary, Did You Know? lyrics © Greensleeves Publishing Limited, Rufus Music, Word Music, Llc

 

Christmas Joy
Today, on this Christmas morn, we celebrate our great joy with the words of this Christmas hymn by Rev. David Bjorlin. Again, you are invited to read the text slowly and prayerfully. Notice what word or phrase you are drawn to, and offer it as a prayer to God.

Light is Kindled in the Darkness
Light is kindled in the darkness
when our hope seems most absurd,
beacons through a shrouded future,
pledges of Christ’s steadfast word;
gifts of goodness yet enfold us-
all around, beneath, above-
signs of beauty still persisting,
symbols of God’s constant love.

Though the wrong appears victorious-
vi’lence, prejudice, and pride-
hope still rises from the wreckage;
joy and grief stand side by side.
We will feel both pain and promise,
terror’s sting and love’s new birth,
as we walk in light and shadow
on God’s blessed and bleeding earth.

Raise your candle in the darkness,
though the wick of faith burns low.
Feed the fire with grace and justice
and in wonder watch it grow.
As we gather flames together,
till they shine with warmth and light,
God dispels the night of hatred,
and the blaze of love burns bright.

Text written by Rev. David Bjorlin © 2017 GIA Publications, Inc.
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/protest-and-praise-print-g10101

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Come Now, O God, When Our Love is Forsaken
Come now, O God, when our love is forsaken.
Come, when our bedrock of faith has been shaken.
Come, when our deepest of hopes are mistaken.
Come, Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel.

Come, when we squander the freedom you gave us.
Come, break the systems of sin that enslave us.
Come, though we wonder if you can still save us.
Come, Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel.

Come, lead us out of our self-serving madness.
Come, while the world is enshrouded in sadness.
Come, turn the tears of our mourning to gladness.
Come, Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel.

Text written by Rev. David Bjorlin © (c) 2018, GIA Inc.
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/protest-and-praise-print-g10101

Third Sunday of Advent

 

The Prophets Caught a Vision
The prophets caught a vision
too thrilling to ignore
of children leading nations
no longer armed for war,
of weapons used for planting
and wolf and lamb at play,
of wild things all conspiring,
Preparing God’s own way

The prophets sought a vision,
a dream of God’s own reign
where peace embraces justice
and joy eclipses pain.
and though such dreams seem useless
their purposes grow clear:
to free minds long held captive
and loose hearts gripped by fear.

God, grow in us a vision
beyond our common dreams
that wakes imaginations
asleep in selfish schemes.
Then rising up together,
your vision as our goal,
we work toward that great promise
a shattered world made whole.

Text written by Dr. Rev. David Bjorlin © 2020 GIA Publications, Inc.
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/protest-and-praise-print-g10101

 

Prepare the way with quietness,
a stillness in the storm,
that will not speak the wounding words
that cheapen or deform.

Prepare the way with hopeful words
some mock but others crave,
that makes the empire flinch in fear
and turn the fearful brave.

Prepare the way through holding back
while others grasp or strain
for unjust wealth and untamed power
that add to human pain.

Prepare the way with fervent love
that tears down walls of hate
and reconstructs a kinder world
that justice can create.

Prepare the way until we reach
the dawn of that new day
when all our paths converge in Christ
and we have found our way.

Text written by Rev. David Bjorlin, 1984 © 2020 GIA Publications, Inc.
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/protest-and-praise-print-g10101

Advent begins in the darkness of night,
waiting and watching for signs of a light,
walking in faith that a path will appear,
daring to follow in spite of our fear.

Advent begins with our dreams yet deferred.
love sounds ridiculous, prayer seems absurd.
but in the midst of life’s centerless maze,
we lift together our protest of praise.

Advent begins in oppression’s domain
marked by the cries of confusion and pain.
Yet hope is kindled where justice is done,
mercy is nurtured and peace is begun.

Advent goes on till the promised dawn breaks,
tyrants are toppled, and God’s dream awakes.
Hope is perfected and faith is made sight.
Love is our center and Christ is our Light.

Text written by Dr. Rev. David Bjorlin © 2017 GIA Publications, Inc.
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/protest-and-praise-print-g10101

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Opening Prayer
Emmanuel, God with us, we give you thanks and praise for who you are and all you have done.
In these moments, help us to soak it in, that we may be filled with joy and the awareness of your presence within.

Invitation
Christmas soon approaches. Some of you may be connected to the joy it brings. For others of you, grief may be intensified. Wherever you find yourself, with questions and heartache, or with joy and promise, may you sense Emmanuel, God with us, coming to you right where you are.

Because You Are
Giver of Joy and Promise
We pause to take in
This wonder of wonders
Beyond our imaginings
That You come as one of us
To know what we know
To experience what we do
To share your life with us
Your life within us

Because You are
Hope is realized
For you bring hope from despair
beauty from ashes
Comfort from sorrow
Honor from shame
Transforming our pain
Giving us life anew

Because You are
Joy comes in the morning
Because you come to us as we are
Calling us by name
Lifting our face
That we may gaze in your eyes
And see your love and acceptance
reflected there

Because You are
Love heals us
For You come
Embracing us to yourself
Imprinting upon our hearts
That we are your beloved
Made in your image
Each one of us

Because You are
We are restored
For You walk beside us always
Your presence healing and renewing
Because You came
Because You are
Because You are
Emmanuel, God with us.

Amen.

(Rev. Eva Sullivan-Knoff, copyright 2019)

Third Sunday of Advent

Opening Prayer
Gracious God, as we sit with you, may your presence illuminate us with light and warmth like that of a glowing fireplace. We draw close Lord.

Invitation
As you read the poem below, notice the ways in which Emmanuel, God with us, comes to us, comes to you, even in the waiting.

While We Wait
While we wait,
Longing for answers
and for hope realized
We slow our step,
Pausing and paying attention
Noticing and Pondering
Signs of your presence
Around us
We quiet ourselves
Listening for your whispers
Reminding us we are your beloved
For You leave us not alone
And so
Pausing and paying attention
Noticing and Pondering
We seek to recognize you
In the faces we meet
And in the little gifts received
A warm smile
Shared tears
Children’s laughter
The words of a friend
While we wait
Longing for answers and for hope realized
We seek to recognize you
In the many ways you come to us
Reminding us
We are your beloved
And You leave us not alone.
Amen.
(Rev. Eva Sullivan-Knoff, copyright 2019)

Opening Prayer
Gracious God, as we sit with you in these moments,
fill us with your peace.

Invitation
In God alone, our soul waits in silence.
Sit for a moment or two and breathe in God’s peace.

Reflection
Advent touches all the places in our lives
and in our world where we wait.
All the prayers waiting for answers. All the aching waiting for good news. All the dreams waiting to be realized. All the waiting for a new start, a new season.
Sometimes all we can do is cry out.
Waiting is draining. Hope can seem elusive.
In our waiting, in our crying out
for ourselves and for our world,
May we find ourselves met by God right where we are.
May we find comfort and hope right in the midst of it.

Read the poem below a couple of times.
Pause where you are most drawn.

Waiting
We are in a season of waiting
for good news
for comfort in our mourning
for hope in the midst of despair
to get on the other side of whatever it is
with which we struggle
We are waiting for peace
to calm the chaos within
for a glimpse of light in the darkness.
We are waiting for joy to return
for longings to be realized
for promises to come to fruition
We wait but not without hope
We wait in remembrance
of who God has been
and what God has done
for the uncountable moments of:
God’s presence by our side
when God’s tears have merged with ours
when our prayers have known answers
and our joy has been reborn
We wait in remembrance of the miracles of all sizes
We wait in hope
because of who God is
because of who God has always been
That hope allows us to keep walking toward the light
It keeps us believing and moving forward
It keeps us loving and reaching out to others
offering what we have received.
We wait in hope
because we know Emmanuel, God with us
has been felt by our side
and will be again.
Amen.

(Rev. Eva Sullivan-Knoff, copyright 2019)

Opening Prayer
Lord, it seems hard to quiet my heart and mind. So much is swirling around and within me. In these moments, please quiet me within. I need your peace of heart and mind to have strength for the day. Hear me Oh Lord, I pray.

Invitation
Pause for a moment or two to quiet your mind, heart, and body. Take in a few deep breaths. Inhale God’s peace and release any tension. Do this a few times. Breathe in deeply God’s peace for you.

Reflection
As we begin Advent, so many troubles and heartaches in the world clamor for our attention. Climate Change has reached a state of emergency. Children continue to be separated from their parents at the border. Power and privilege continue as weapons to hurt others. Too many people are still without their basic needs. Racism still oppresses. LGBTQ lives are still not honored with value. If ever we longed to connect to the hope of Advent it is now.
Read the poem below through a few times. Pause and reflect on a word or phrase on where you are drawn.

Advent Begins
Longing and yearning
Stretching and straining
Desiring with all my being
Your light in the midst of the encompassing darkness
Heartaches cover my vision
And dim the light within
I cling to Hope to wrap myself in
like a soft warm blanket
Lift my eyes above and beyond
All that aches without and within
May the light of hope kindle a fire
Bright to warm the hearts of all who gather
Radiant to fill our eyes with your vision
Ablaze with your hope and your life
We gather you within and around
Just as you gather us in
And embrace us with yourself.
Amen.

(Rev. Eva Sullivan-Knoff, copyright 2019)