Growing in Wisdom
Please
click on the following link and scroll down:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/slides/Cx_FirstSundayafterChristmasDay.pdf
Preconceived notions are the locks
on the door to wisdom.
~
Merry Browne
Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams.
Think not about your frustrations,
but about your unfulfilled potential.
Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in,
but with what it is still possible for you to do.
~
Pope John XXIII
Final Memories of Thanksgiving, 2018
Vidanta Riviera Maya
The
Entrance
The
Lidiaks
Patrick,
Val, Danny, Dianne, Peter
The
Griffins
Allie,
Marty, Betsy, Kate, Megan
The
Alexanders
Mary
and John Alexander, Robin Sakamoto, Dot Alexander, Kei Sakamoto, Will and Jack
Alexander, Carolyn Alexander, Jack Alexander
Carolyn,
Jack, Robin, Dot … and Kei in the foreground
Dot
Alexander with her siblings, Peter Lidiak and Betsy Griffin
Val
Lidiak, Kate Griffin
Will
Alexander
John
and Mary Alexander with Jack, their older son.
Will
(almost 13) and Jack Alexander (just turned 17)
View
from my little spot on the beach.
Kei
and Robin Sakamoto
The
dipping pool on our balcony
Patrick
Lidiak
Pat
and Kate
Megan,
Pat
Marty,
Kate
Danny
Dot
Alexander with Drew and Allie
Drew
and Allie
Peter,
Dianne, Allie
Megan,
Allie, Kate Griffin
Jack
and Dot Alexander
Betsy
Griffin
<gr>
Back to Evergreen, Colorado!
I found Santa’s reindeer last weekend!
They
were obviously lost and just standing in the middle of the road.
I
had to get closer in order to get them to move.
I
think they were looking for the sleigh.
Some
moved off to the left …
…
and some to the right.
They
must still be in training for sleigh-pulling.
I
hope they and Santa found all your homes!!!
Christmas
Eve
The early Christians did not say in dismay, “Look what
the world has come to,” but in delight, “Look what has come to the world.”
They saw not merely the ruin, but the Resource for the reconstruction of
that ruin. They saw not merely that sin did abound, but that grace did
much more abound.
~
E. Stanley Jones *
December 30, 2018 First
Sunday after Christmas Day Year C
* E.
Stanley Jones was a Methodist doctor and missionary to India. He is also
the founder of the Christian Ashram movement.
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem
for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went
up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to
return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know
it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey.
Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they
did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three
days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to
them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his
understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished;
and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this?
Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He
said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must
be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to
them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to
them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
Luke 2:41-52
Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein
Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org
1
Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm
148
Colossians
3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
1 Samuel
2:18-20, 26
Samuel
was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used
to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up
with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah
and his wife, and say, "May the Lord repay you with children by this woman
for the gift that she made to the Lord"; and then they would return to
their home.
Now the
boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and
with the people.
Psalm 148
Praise
God!
Praise God from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!
Praise
God,
all you angels of God;
praise God,
all you host of heaven!
Praise
God,
you sun and moon;
praise God,
all you shining stars!
Praise
God,
you highest heavens,
and you waters
above the heavens!
Let
them praise the name
of God,
for God commanded
and they were created.
God
established them
forever and ever;
God fixed their bounds,
which cannot be passed.
Praise
God from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail,
snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling
God's command!
Mountains
and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts of the forest
and all cattle,
crawling things
and flying birds!
Rulers
of the earth
and all peoples,
nobles and all leaders
of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name
of the Sovereign,
whose name alone
is exalted;
whose glory is above
earth and heaven.
God has
raised up a horn
for the people,
and praise for all
the faithful,
for the people of Israel
who are close to God.
Praise be to God!
Colossians
3:12-17
As
God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if
anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord
has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with
love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.
And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish
one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Luke 2:41-52
Now
every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And
when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the
festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group
of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him
among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to
Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And
all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his
parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child,
why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching
for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching
for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they
did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came
to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in
her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.