December 11, by Sharon Cleland

SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 2: 5-9
Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ….You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Riverside Presbyterian Church is an impressive structure which has graced the corner of Park and Post Streets for eighty years. With its magnificent stained glass windows and stately architecture, it is a landmark in the Riverside area.
But RPC is more than bricks and mortar, wood and glass. It is, in fact, comprised of “living stones.” It beckons to those in the community whose longings are to “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.” To that end, on any given day one can find members of this congregation ringing bells for the Salvation Army, mentoring children in nearby public schools, climbing into the bloodmobile to donate a pint, delivering meals on wheels, constructing a Habijax house, arriving on Sunday morning bearing canned goods for DESC or underwear for Dignity You Wear.
Separately, these may be small acts, but collectively they significantly impact the Jacksonville community. These efforts seem to me to reflect like a giant mirror the “marvelous light” that Advent represents.

PRAYER
Gracious God, You have called us out of darkness into the dazzling light for which we long. May we not be dazed, but rather illuminated and motivated to be your priests, reflecting through our lives your perfect light.

Sharon Cleland is the brillant editor of this Advent Blog. Sharon and Jim Cleland have been long-time members of Riverside.