John on Spring (season)

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Almighty God, Creator: The morning is Yours, rising into fullness

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Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 33:6, Psalm 113:3, Psalm 74:17, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Romans 11:36, John 1:3, Luke 12:27, 1 Peter 1:24-25

Almighty God, Creator: The morning is Yours, rising into fullness. The summer is Yours, dipping into autumn. Eternity is Yours, dipping into time. The vibrant grasses, the scent of flowers, the li...

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Searching for the Infinite

Author

Robert Burns

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:18, James 1:17, John 1:9, Job 12:7-10

Robert Burns was a widely heralded poet and lyricist (1759-1796), considered by many as the National Poet of Scotland. Burns’ poems continue to be read around the world and many have been put to song,...

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The Themes of Epiphany

Author

Fleming Rutledge

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-6 , Numbers 24:17 , 2 Kings 5:1-19 , Matthew 2:1-12 , John 1:29-34, Psalm 72:10-11

Serious attention paid to the themes of the season following the Feast of the Epiphany, in particular, can be a strong antidote to a weak Christology. To be sure, all of the church calendar is formed ...

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Star Song

Author

Luci Shaw

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 19:1-2, John 1:9, Luke 2:13-14, Revelation 22:16, Matthew 17:1-8

We have been having epiphanies like suns, all this year long. And now, at its close when the planets are shining through frost, light runs like music in the bones, and the heart ke...

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Which Advent Do We Prepare For?

Author

J. Neil Alexander

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, Isaiah 40:3-5, Luke 1:68-79, John 1:5, 9-14, Revelation 21:1-4, Romans 13:11-12

Is Advent a preparatory fast in preparation for the liturgical commemoration of the historical birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, or is Advent a season unto itself. A sacrament of the end of time begun in t...

liturgy

Trusting in God's Tender Mercy

Author

Steve Garnaas Holmes

Keywords

Scripture

John 15:1-2, Psalm 51:10-12, Isaiah 64:8, 1 John 1:9 , Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17 , Titus 3:5

Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another. Gracious God, We confess the the dead and fruitless branches in our lives, shriveled by the wintery storms of...

liturgy

As we continue the season of Advent

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Advent

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:1-14, Luke 2:1-11, John 14:27

Leader: As we continue the season of Advent, we celebrate that Jesus has come, and that He promises to come again! Jesus came to bring light and hope, People: but our hearts are often shrouded by d...

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The Twelfth Day of Christmas

Author

Emile Griffin

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-2, Ephesians 3:6, 1 Kings 10:1-13, John 1:9, Philippians 2:10-11

In many Christian lands Epiphany is the most important feast of Christmas. Especially in Latin countries the arrival of the Wise Men, the Three Kings, looms large in the imagination. My native city, N...

liturgy

Invocation for Easter

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:29-40, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:8-9

Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen! People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Pastor: ...

liturgy

Joyous Celebration, Confession And Forgiveness

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 59:1-2, Jonah 3:4, Romans 3:23-24, 1 John 1:8-9, Psalm 51:10-13

Pastor: Even on this joyous day of celebration let us not forget that we are sinful people who do not deserve the precious gift of salvation that God has given us in the death and resurrection of Je...

Quote

Author

John Donne

Keywords

Advent

Scripture

Luke 2:25-32, John 1:9-14, Titus 2:13

The church prepares our devotion before Christmas Day with four Sundays in Advent, which bring Christ nearer and nearer to us and remind us that he is coming to enable us by a further examination of o...

liturgy

Advent Is

Author

Sarah Bourns Crosby

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:, John 1:1-18

Toes curled at the edge before jumping from the plane Bodies crouched in position before bursting from the gate Ballerinas posed behind the curtain front and center stage A child perched on sh...

Quote

Author

Frederick Buechner

Keywords

Advent

Scripture

Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 9:2, Luke 1:78-79, John 1:5

In the silence of a midwinter dusk, there is far off in the deeps of it somewhere a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to lis...

liturgy

Assurance of Pardon for Christmas

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Malachi 4:2, Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 4:16, Titus 2:11, John 1:16, Isaiah 9:6

Leader: People of God, rejoice! The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in His wings. To us a Child has been born; to us God’s Son has been given! His eternal reign has broken throug...

liturgy

Almighty God, you have surprised us

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 13:44, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 139:7-10, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 2:1-20, John 4:7-26, John 21:1-14, Luke 24:13-35, Matthew 17:1-8, Luke 2:25-38, Luke 1:35-38, Hebrews 13:2, Isaiah 43:19

Almighty God, you have surprised us with your presence in unexpected ways. In the expectations of our routine, we have missed the treasure that you place before us. We come to worship you in community...

Quote

Author

Stuart Briscoe

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

John 1:1-5, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 1:8-12, John 11:25-26, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:27, Hebrews 9:15, John 4:13-14, Matthew 28:20

The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ...

Quote

Author

C. S. Lewis

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Colossians 1:19, John 2:11, Acts 2:22, Matthew 9:35

Just as every natural event is the manifestation at a particular place and moment of Nature's total character, so every particular Christian miracle manifests at a particular place and moment the ...

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God's Joy Moves From Unmarked Box to Unmarked Box

Author

Anne Lamott

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20, Isaiah 6:3, John 1:9-10, Colossians 1:16-17

"God's joy," said by the Persian mystic Rumi, "moves from unmarked box to unmarked box, from cell to cell. As rain water down into flower bed. As roses up from ground. Now it looks ...

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Saints Let The Light Shine Through

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:14-15, Ephesians 5:8-9, John 1:1-5, Proverbs 4:18, Isaiah 60:1, Colossians 1:12, Hebrews 10:24-25, Revelation 14:12, Hebrews 12:1

One time a little boy and his father got to tour Europe. During their journey, they visited a magnificent cathedral, where the boy found himself captivated by the vibrant stained glass windows. He cou...

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Two Words for Life

Author

Stuart Briscoe

Keywords

Scripture

John 10:10, John 11:25-26, John 1:4, John 14:6, Romans 6:4, 1 John 5:11-12

The Greek language, in which the New Testament was written, has two words for life. One ( bios ) means “mere biological existence”; the other ( zoe ) means “lie in all its fullness.” What we are being...

lectionary

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Author

Darren Pollock

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:43-51, John 20:29, 1 Corinthians 13:12, John 4:29, John 4:42

Preaching Commentary Context Jesus' Ministry Begins This passage is from the first chapter of John’s gospel and describes the beginning of Jesus’ ministry—fitting for the beginning of a new ye...

liturgy

Holy Trinity, Community of Love

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, John 10:30, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 1:1-4, Matthew 3:16-17

Holy Trinity, Community of Love, Draw us together in your creative light Root us in the ground of your being, Vulnerable before one another, Unashamed in your presence and each other’s Make us joyfu...

liturgy

Church, we are Easter people

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

2 Samuel 12:13-14 , Isaiah 1:18 , 1 John 1:8-9, Luke 18:9-14, Acts 2:38, Psalm 96:1

Pastor: Church, we are Easter people living in resurrection victory. Along with the Psalmist, we worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. We declare His glory in the midst of His people. We p...

liturgy

A Christmas Blessing

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, Luke 2:22-35

Leader: As we go from here, May the love of the Creator, The joy of the Christ-child And the peace of the Spirit be with you this C...

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A World Three Times Bigger

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 28:10–17, Isaiah 9:2–7, Micah 5:2–5, John 1:1–14, Luke 2:8–14 , Psalm 96:10–13

Our family started watching our Christmas movies early this year. We love Christmas Vacation , Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Home Alone (one and two), Rudolph, and Frosty the Snowman ...

liturgy

God of mercy, you are full of

Author

Dustin Ray

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 86:5, Joel 2:13, Exodus 34:6, 1 John 1:9, Micah 7:18, Romans 2:4, Ephesians 1:7

God of mercy, you are full of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive. Grant us grace to repent of our sins and to cling to Christ, that in every way we ma...

Quote

Author

John Piper

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

John 3:16-17, John 1:14, Romans 5:8-9, Matthew 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Romans 8:1, Luke 2:8-14, Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 16:11, Revelation 21:3-4

Christmas: the Son of God expressing the love of God to save us from the wrath of God so we could enjoy the presence of God.

liturgy

Hallelujah! Help Us Shine! An opening prayer for Christmas or Epiphany

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:null, Matthew 2:null, John 1:1-14, Matthew 2:1-12

Hallelujah! Help Us Shine! Welcome Glorious One Lord of Life and Light Dawn in us your power and peacemaking Hallelujah! Help us shine! You bathe us in the light of your grace, that we may be grace...

liturgy

Good morning, Father

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

Philippians 4:6-7, Luke 15:11-32, Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 51:10-12, James 4:8, 1 John 1:9

Prayer of Adoration Good morning, Father. While we slept last night – You were awake, sustaining our world, protecting us and readying a new day. Jesus – You hold us in the palms of Your hands: str...

liturgy

Forgive Us, Renew Our Spirit

Keywords

Scripture

John 15:16, John 1:12, 1 John 3:1, Psalm 119:37, Galatians 5:22-23

Pastor: Gracious Father, You have chosen us for a purpose – that we might bear lasting fruit for Your Kingdom. You call us to walk humbly before You and to share in the struggle with the least of thes...

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A

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Genesis

Psalm

Isaiah

Lamentations

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