Pastor’s Pondering

My Pastor’s Pondering for December is a reprint (With a few changes for the Liturgical year C) of the pondering that I wrote for you in December of last year 2024. I had a number of positive responses from last year’s pondering and how it helped many focus on the Advent Season through the study of scripture. It is my prayer that you will visit these scriptures or revisit them so that we can truly center the focus of our Advent Season on the birth of our Lord and Savior during what can be a hectic season of the year.

Advent is a season observed by many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. During Advent, it is common for followers of Jesus Christ to read and reflect on specific Bible verses or passages that relate to the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, which are symbolized by the Advent Candles that we light each Sunday during Advent and on Christmas Eve.

For your study during Advent, I would like to suggest these readings from scripture:

Sunday November 30^th – Isaiah 2:1-5   Hope                   
Sunday December 7^th – Isaiah 11:6-9   Peace
Sunday December 14^th – Isaiah 35:5-10-6 Joy 
Sunday December 21^st – Luke 1:46–55 Love

Wednesday or Thursday December 24^th and 25^th, Christmas Eve and Christmas – Isaiah
9:6-7 Rejoicing

Scriptures to be read and meditated on during other days of Advent:

Isaiah 52:7-9                                                       
Genesis 3:8-15                              
Isaiah 40:1-5
Genesis 15:1-6
Deuteronomy 18:15-19                                                                   
Psalms 89:1-4
Isaiah 11:1-10                                                       
Micah 5:2-3                                      
Zachariah 6:12-13
Malachi 3:1-6                                                        
John 1:1-8                                        
John 1:9-18
Mark 1:1-3                                                             
Luke 1: 5-13                                     
Luke 1:14-17
Luke 1:18-25                                                         
Luke 1:39-45                                    
Luke 1:46-56
Luke 1:57-66                                                       
Luke 1:67-80                                    
Isaiah 7:10-13
Luke 1:26-35                                                       
Isaiah 9:2-7                                       
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-20                                                         
Matthew 2:1-2                                  
Luke 2:21-35

As you read scripture from you Bible each day might I suggest a quiet time and place, maybe a candle flickering. As you read each scripture look for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

May this Advent Season be a blessed time filled with the grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Pastor Gary