Advent Week 1

i have recently started attending Edgehill United Methodist in Nashville. it's an ultra-liberal, ultra-hippie, amazingly fun church. and they started an Advent Adult Sunday School class yesterday. i went, because it was advertised as 'finding your passions' or something like that and i thought it would be helpful to make life goals. i was probably the youngest in the class by about 25 years, but i met this really cool old guy who talked all about how weird it is to be retired and not have anything to do and he just realized that maybe all of the different careers in his life were not actually what he truly wanted to do, but what others had told him he would be good at. (he was a freaking neuropsychologist...) it was startling how closely his story aligns with mine, except i am starting and he is ending. when i told him that he said i should go to seminary (haha...check!). i think it is so important to find what really gives you joy and gives you fulfillment and not just what others would approve of or want you to do. i realize that a lot of times making other people happy is fulfilling or joyful for you, but there really has to be a balance.

ok, done for now. here is the Bible study we did yesterday in class. i really really challenge you to think about the questions at the end. i thought they were totally out of context questions for the passage, but then was floored when i figured out the connections.

ADVENT STUDY #1: What longs to be born in me?

Luke 1:26-38 New Revised Standard Version

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of JAcob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to beorn will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:26-38 The Message translation - Eugene Peterson

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, MAry. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.
She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
be called 'Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob's house forever -
no end, ever, to his kingdom."

Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months' pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, "Yes, I see it all now; I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say." The the angel left her.


Reflection Questions:

What does the passage tell me about God?

What is it that longs to be born (expanded) in me this season?

Do my longings come from within me or from what others say I should want?

Will the things I long for bring healing to others as well as to myself?

Will my desires draw me closer to God?