“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one…
“This is how we know that we live in him and he is in us: he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. I anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so,…
“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…
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever know God listens to us; but whoever is not…
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every that does not acknowledge Jesus is not…
The Advent wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of endless love and faithfulness. Out of darkness light shines, pointing us in hope to the One who came to overcome the darkness of this world and to be our light in the world to come. We celebrate his great love. Three weeks ago, we lit…
Jesus is coming, shout for joy! Joy is a word we see and hear everywhere at Christmas. Joy to the world is the message of the season. Joy is the theme of this day. Two weeks ago, we lit the Prophecy candle and remembered those who first spoke the promise of hope of the coming Christ child. [Light the purple candle that…
Waiting is hard in a fast-paced society. We want the stoplight to change quickly, the grocery line to move fast, and Christmas morning to arrive soon. We forget that before good things happen, preparations must be made. Last week we lit the Prophecy candle and remembered those who first spoke with hope the promise of the coming Christ child. This morning we…
Lighting a candle is a simple yet profound act. It is a testimony to the power of light over darkness. Even the light of one candle can reveal our faces as we stand near the candle. As we light the candle, we begin our journey to Christmas, a day of joy and celebration. The first candle on the Advent wreath is called…
Upon entering the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, one is confronted by a stained-glass window whose central panel bears the inscription “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.” In light of the circumstances we now face it is foremost on my mind how to serve those that are in need. Some, especially the infirmed and elderly are reticent to…