Monday, Dec. 1 by Dan Thomas

Isaiah 60:19-22

As you read Isaiah 60:19-22 we are aware of the reality that Light has come, as anticipated by the ancient prophet. But try to put yourself into a time machine which helpsyou feel as they felt before Jesus came. Then our Advent Season can become more meaningful. Instead of "will be your light", we hear Jesus say, "I am the Light of the World." The light which is the presence of God, inaccessable and threatening to God's people then, has come to earth and lived among us radiating love.

Mourning can be past when we realize that Presence is still available. As they mourned their sins and the destruction brought on their land, we can mourn our part in needing a savior to come. Mourning disolves in the radiance of salvation we receive in Christ. In Revelation we read, "the Lord will be your everlasting light." Darkness has not overcome the Light.

Then we hear, "you are the light of the world." This can be difficult to believe. But we only reflect that light which comes from God. As we endeavor to do this we are assured this is not our achievement. God says to us as to the people of old, "I will accomplish this.." That reassurance helps us live by God's word.

First Sunday of Advent by Chris Wrenn

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing . . . ” Genesis 12:2 (KJV)


As a child I remember my grandparents kneeling by their bed at night, praying aloud in their Quaker way. They prayed for forgiveness and strength for themselves and offered thanks for their children and grandchildren. Now, I realize that their prayer was more than thanksgiving: it was a confidence in blessings to come, grounded in a deep longing to be a solid link in the chain of faithfulness between their parents and generations to follow.

One morning some time ago, I visited my grandmother, who will be 100 this spring. “I love you, honey, and I love your family,” she said to me, holding the face of our younger child close enough to see and kiss him. “Grandmother prays for each one of you by name every day.” Leaving that afternoon, I realized that she just may have prayed for me every day of my life.

Advent is more than waiting. It is trusting in the God whose blessing to Abraham and Sarah remains with us today. The One whose coming we await is a God who promises not only to bless us, but to make each of us a trusted link in the chain of blessing He graciously ordains for generations to come.


God of promise, You have blessed our ancestors. Daily You bless us. Make us Your blessing to those who will follow. Amen.

Chris Wrenn is a elder at Riverside Presbyterian Church. His wife Mary is the church wedding director and he has two sons, Paul and David.

Season of Longing by Rev. Steve Goyer

This Advent let us remember Paul’s words to the persecuted Christians in Romans 8:18-19 “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.” The whole creation longs?

From the day we are born, longing becomes as much a part of us as hunger and thirst. We long for: our mothers and fathers, safety, love and to be loved, children, meaning, sobriety, faith, joy, happiness, peace, health, forgiveness… deeper still, in our heart of hearts, we long for God, for going home, to be-long.

Longing is a good thing; it fuels our faith. Longing and search for meaning and for God our faith is formed. This is such a universal condition that “the whole creation,” is caught up in it according to Paul.

During Advent we will be focusing on what we long for. Pay attention to how we feed our longing through distraction, entertainment, and our various vices. Advent is the time of longing, so let’s learn to sit with it, embracing it as our friend and spiritual guide. We may discover how much God is longing for us.