Claimed, gathered and sent

Here are some thoughts for Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Advent. These were sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  SCRIPTURE FOCUS    Gospel: Luke 1:46-55   46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,    47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,   48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;   49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.   50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.   51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.   52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;   53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.   54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,   55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” RE...

Tomorrow is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent. People are chomping at the bit to sing Christmas carols in church, but they will have to wait until Christmas eve. The gospel text is from Luke and this is what I'll be sharing with the people of God at Bethel Lutheran Church in Portville, NY.             Last Sunday afternoon a group from Bethel went caroling. We sang at several senior citizen housing sites in Olean and Portville, as well as the home of one of our members. Everyplace we went, people responded with smiles and thanks. However, there was one place that was new for this group of carolers—a group home for developmentally disabled adults. I was struck by seeing and hearing the responses of these so called disabled people. One man had a sleigh bell and rang it as we sang. Others entered into the spirit of the season as they heard familiar Christmas songs by singing along with us. I saw the power of music to move pe...