Welcome to the 3rd Sunday of Advent when we celebrate with the Advent Candle of Love. We are getting so close to the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth. The best-known passage of scripture is about God’s Love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) That amount of love in hard to fathom. Even as I told my kids, “I love you so, so much, but God loves you more,” it was hard for me to fully comprehend.

In the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied the words of the Lord, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.” (Isaiah 54:10).

For 100’s of years God was steadfast in his love for us – humankind. Then he sent his son and God incarnate was a human infant child. God brought his love to earth, to live, love and suffer as humankind lives, loves and suffers. Jesus lived a life teaching and exhibiting love. What do we do with that? Are we just waiting for a second advent – a new arrival of Jesus? As we wait, what do we do? We do what Jesus did.

When his critics tried to test him, asking which commandment is the greatest, Jesus answered “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39).

In 1 John 4:7-12 we are told, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

I recommend you read the above scripture from 1 John 4:7-12 again, then read it tomorrow when you wake up and read it everyday. Share this with others, for there are some who do not feel loved. God has given them to us to nourish and care for, and to show God’s love through our hearts.

From Community of Christ’s Doctrine and Covenants 153:9a-b:
“Let my word be preached to the bruised and the brokenhearted as well as those who are enmeshed in sin, longing to repent and follow me. Let the truths of my gospel be proclaimed as widely and as far as the dedication of the Saints, especially through the exercise of their temporal stewardship, will allow.
My Spirit is reaching out to numerous souls even now and there are many who will respond if you, my people, will bear affirmative testimony of my love and my desires for all to come unto me.”

If you have a candle at home, any candle, light it, and declare it the Candle of Love. Breathe in God’s love and hold it close to your heart and let it grow. And get ready for the birth of Jesus Christ.

​Author: Bonnie Barber 

Welcome to the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Welcome to the anticipation of Jesus’ birth. In Isaiah 9:6 we read, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

We still seek the promise of this scripture. What is not fully stated here, however, is that we have a responsibility in creating this world of peace. This child of God provided us the blueprint for a life of loving our neighbor and caring for all of God’s sacred creation.

The second candle in our Advent Wreath this week is the Candle of Peace, also referred to as the Bethlehem Candle because it represents Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem before Jesus’s birth. They had a lot to do to prepare for Jesus’s birth. We, too, have a lot to do. In John 14:27 we are told that Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Jesus put peace into our hands. There is a hymn that is not in the Christmas section of our hymnals, perhaps because it is a song for all times of the year, but it belongs here with the Advent Candle of Hope. “Put Peace Into Each Other’s Hands” (Reprinted using OL 722962)
   “Put peace into each other’s hands and like a treasure hold it; protect it like a candle flame, with tenderness enfold it.
    Put peace into each other’s hands with loving expectation; be gentle in your words and ways, in touch with God’s creation.
   Put peace into each other’s hand like bread we break for sharing; look people warmly in the eye: Our life is meant for caring.
    Give thanks for strong yet tender hands, held out in trust and blessing. Where words fall short, let hands speak out, the heights of love expressing.
   Reach out in friendship, stay with faith, in touch with those around you. Put peace into each other’s hands, the Peace that sought and found you.“
 
God sought to give us this message through Jesus. May the anticipation we feel in the preparations for Christmas light a flame within us to find and fuel a passion for peace and love in our homes, our communities, and our world.
(Author: Bonnie Barber)

Welcome to our weekly devotion. This Sunday, Nov 26th, we celebrate Christ the King Sunday or otherwise known as Reign of Christ Sunday.  The titles for this Sunday, expressed in those two ways, made me think about what this really means.

For me, the image of a king includes riches and a crown of jewels. However, Christ doesn’t fit into that image. No jewels and riches, and Christ’s crown, as we know it, was a crown of thorns. In Jesus’ world, he reached out to the poor and the hungry. He ate with those whom the world despised, and he preached forgiveness and love, often clashing with the norms of his day. He didn’t preach about a King’s power but his words were about the power of God’s love.

The world we seek where Christ is King is a world that serves others. When we live out Jesus’ teachings – that is where the power really is. That is when Christ reigns! What do or can you do to bring about the reign of Jesus in your community?
Jesus ate with people who were looked down upon within the society of his time. Who are those people today in our society?  Don’t we find them on our street corners holding signs asking for help? What do you offer them?  When have you sought to bring hope, reconciliation, and healing to a corner of your community?

I find that the idea of the Reign of Christ means so much more. A king represents the government side of power. And today, in our country and in the world, there is upheaval, divisiveness and violence in words and actions. It is the reign of Christ that is needed. We need to love and value humankind in the ways Jesus taught.

Whether you live a life where “Jesus is King” or where “Christ Reigns”, how do you show this in your community? Next week we begin Advent and emphasize love, hope, joy and peace in our church services. But we need to do more than light candles and share the stories of old. We need to go outside the doors of the church, out into the mission field, and take love, hope, joy and peace into the world. Show what it means when “Christ Reigns”.

We must heed the words in Doctrine and Covenants 162:7d. “The call to respond is urgent. Look to the needs of your own congregations, but look also beyond your walls to the far-flung places where the church must go. Each disciple needs a spiritual home. You are called to build that home and care for it, but also to share equally in the outreaching ministries of the church. In that way the gospel may be sent to other souls also yearning for a spiritual resting place.”
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Christ Reigns. His heart is our mission.

Welcome to the Sunday devotion. During this time let’s clear our minds of the things left undone on our to-do list. Clear our minds of those frustrations that distract us. Are we hoarding any anger or disappointment? Focus on breaking free of worries and burdens. Letting go means we can focus our mind and heart on God and open our hearts to experience compassion. And forgiveness. Whether in silence or out loud, say this: “God, I come to you. Help me open my life to you.” Take a breath and say it again. Breathe and say it a third time.
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As you open space for God, start allowing yourself to reflect and identify all the good things about yourself and seek to acknowledge your giftedness. Do you accept and acknowledge that you are special and have gifts to offer to the world? Many of us feel we do not have a special gift or talent. Perhaps we‘ve overlooked them. Perhaps we are too focused on wishing for a gift that we see in someone else. Do you fall into one of these categories? In Romans 12:6 we are told “Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given.”

I remember speaking at church about sharing our gifts and talents and it caused me to once again wish that I could sing with a clear and beautiful voice. There was a woman at church whose voice I loved. It was magical and I dearly wished to have such an amazing gift. But then I assessed the kinds of things that were my gifts. I do have the gift of creativity. I find ways to incorporate drama, puppetry, poetry, and Christian clowning into my ministry and I realized how much I enjoyed offering this gift. So would I want to trade my creativity for a voice that could sing so beautifully?  I realized that the answer was no. I didn’t want to give up my creativity. So I was content and truly appreciative to God for giving me my gifts.  

Next I reflected on valuing others for their unique gifts instead of feeling frustrated about their weaknesses.  We need all the gifts to make up the body of Christ. “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” So build each other up and help one another recognize and celebrate the value of all persons.

Recently in our congregation we focused on the gift we all have when we share in the ministry of presence. With that gift we enjoy the Blessings of Community, the Unity in Diversity and Worth of All Persons – all part of the Enduring Principles of Community of Christ. (https://cofchrist.org/about-us/)

 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10). As we identify and value the gifts of every person, we are building our relationship with Jesus Christ and, in turn, building our relationship with God. Make it a goal to share with someone today, the value of their presence in your life. Make a phone call. Send a text. Recognize and honor them as God recognizes and honors you.

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. As I take a breath and turn my focus to this devotion, I reflect on this week’s worship theme, “Reach Out In Faith”. The scripture that comes to mind immediately is the story of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. “ Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can just put a finger on his robe, I’ll get well.” Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: “Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you’re well.” The woman was well from then on.” (Matthew 9:20-22, The Message)  How do we relate this to our lives today?”

There are so many examples of people who came to Jesus, reaching out in faith. Have you ever found yourself reaching out in faith to Jesus? Were you sick and needing healing? Or were you facing a situation where you reached out in faith asking for help? What were the outcomes?

How about when others need assistance? Who do you respond to? There are many on the street corners holding up a sign, asking for help. Do you reach out in faith to help? Do you find more comfort when others’ lives seem to align with yours? When an unknown visitor walks into your congregation, do you automatically reach out in welcome? What if the person comes in with a plastic bag or three of their belongings and they obviously haven’t taken a shower in days or weeks? Wouldn’t this also be an act of reaching out in faith? Who do you invite to go to lunch with you after church?

Who are the “sinners” that our society rejects? Do we blame people for their lack of resources? Do we blame the homeless for their homelessness? Are there people in your life’s sphere that suffer mental illness? How can you help? They may need professional help, but they also need your acceptance. They need to feel they are a person of worth. How would Jesus treat those people today? Do our actions show that we are truly followers of Jesus?

One winter season I was working at a homeless shelter dishing up plates of food. At first, the many faces going through the dinner line were quiet, politely responding when I greeted them. On the third day, their responses were more personal about their lives. They recognized me and felt more comfortable about sharing. They began to feel their answers mattered, and I learned how one was trying to drive across several states to get to family but his car broke down and he had no money to get it fixed. A couple men were jobless and working on getting their GED so they could find better work opportunities. I volunteered to tutor them with English grammar, and, in appreciation, they insisted on walking me to my car to ensure my safety. We mattered to each other.

Reach out in faith. Then reach out again, and again. Jesus continued his ministry with those who were poor, marginalized, and rejected. The Worth of All People is one of Community of Christ’s Enduring Principles, in addition to Unity in Diversity and Blessings of Community. As followers of Jesus, we apply what we learned from his example – these are enduring principles for all of us to live by. Live the active life as followers of Jesus, the Peaceful One.

​(Author: Bonnie Barber)

Each of us may have one part of the three whom we address when we pray, ultimately believing we are talking to our one God. I have observed friends pray directly to Jesus. I’ve seen some speak to the Holy Spirit and others address God directly as our Father (often referred to today as Our Heavenly Parent). How do you address the Divine in your prayers and conversations?
 
Personally, I pray to God, and see God as my Creator, my Friend, and my Companion in my life’s journey. I find each of these descriptions in the Trinity. God, my Creator, I first find within the history and stories of the Old Testament. God is all powerful and has been with us forever and always. I find the humble and incredible personal love of God in the New Testament walking in human form as Jesus, showing us God through parables and loving peace-filled actions.  And I look to the Holy Spirit daily because the Holy Spirit came to walk with us daily as a promise from God when Jesus left this earth.
 
This is my reflection on how I view God as one and as Three-in-One. How I address God in my prayers today is not the same as it was yesterday and it is not the same as it will be tomorrow. That is because God provides for our needs and will be strength, compassion, love, guidance and whatever I need at any point in my life’s journey. This is what I pray for you – that you find God and all that God has given you in whichever of the three speaks to you. This is what Paul said to the people of Corinth in his letter (2 Corinthians 13:13). “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
Author: Bonnie Barber