First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood
  • Home
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Church History
    • Matthew 25
    • Community Resource
    • Facility Use & Rental
    • Want to Join?
  • NEWS
    • ONLINE WORSHIP
    • NEWS & UPDATES
    • Newsletter
    • Renovation
    • Photos
  • Ministries
    • Worship Services
    • Christian Education
    • Music Ministry
    • Mission
    • Deacons
    • Presbyterian Women
    • FROGS Program
    • Community Meals
    • Stewardship
  • Calendar
  • Directions
  • Contact
  • DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Church History
    • Matthew 25
    • Community Resource
    • Facility Use & Rental
    • Want to Join?
  • NEWS
    • ONLINE WORSHIP
    • NEWS & UPDATES
    • Newsletter
    • Renovation
    • Photos
  • Ministries
    • Worship Services
    • Christian Education
    • Music Ministry
    • Mission
    • Deacons
    • Presbyterian Women
    • FROGS Program
    • Community Meals
    • Stewardship
  • Calendar
  • Directions
  • Contact
  • DONATE

ONLINE WORSHIP

Advent - A New Beginning

12/3/2016

 
Picture
I am always humbled by the brothers and sisters who take time each day to “do their devotions.”  My mother led her five children in devotions many mornings before we walked up the hill to Belle Stone Elementary School.  I was not impressed with her commitment until I got older.  Mom, in her quiet steadfastness, introduced her children to an important spiritual discipline.  We were Methodists, so Mom turned to The Upper Room for inspiration.
 
Over the years, I have explored a wide variety of resources to start my day on the right foot. 

One evening, as I browsed through the devotional literature shelf at Barnes and Noble, I picked up a piece that intrigued me - One Hundred Blessings Every Day: Exercises for Personal Growth and Renewal Reflecting the Seasons of the Jewish Year.  I like it.  Not only do I gain understanding of the unique Jewish calendar, but I am inspired by reflections of our Jewish brethren. And Jesus was born, raised, and died a Jew.

The autumn season here in the United States corresponds to the Jewish month called Tishrei, which means “to begin.”  The first day of the month of Tishrei is Rosh-Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  It stirs my soul to think that Jesus celebrated these holy days as he grew up.  Our Advent (synonyms would be arrival, emergence, dawn, birth, rise) has much in common with the Jewish New Year. 

The Jewish symbol for the month of Tishrei is a scale.  A scale represents the idea of balance.  This image caused me to reflect.  As we wend our way through the years we are given, it is remarkably, predictably true that our lives become unbalanced.  Too many demands.  Too much to do.  Too much information.  Too many temptations.  Too many lies.  Too much “this world” and not enough of “God’s world.”

Advent is a time for us to step back, step away from the scary, divisive times we are in and check out our balance.  I won’t speak for you, but my life is often out of balance.  Advent is a time for me to rediscover that for every mistake I make, there is mercy.  For every sin I commit, there is forgiveness.  For every despairing thought, there is the grace of a long-suffering and everlastingly loving God.  Advent is the time to find my balance, to repent, to turn toward God. 

As one ancient Jewish Rabbi named Vilna put it, “Each day should be a new experience.  Each day we have the opportunity of a fresh start.  Each person who repents is like a newborn child.”  Or, as another ancient Jewish prophet put it, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
 
May the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding be with you.

Pastor Michael


Comments are closed.
    created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io

Archives

March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
September 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
January 2019
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
December 2015
November 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014

RSS Feed

ABOUT US
Leadership
Church History
Community Resource
Facility Usage Policy
​
HOME
NEWS
Online Worship
News & Updates
Newsletter
Church Calendar
Worship Schedule
MINISTRIES
Christian Education
Music Ministry
​
Mission
Presbyterian Women
​FROGS Program
Deacons
Community Meals​
Photo Galleries
DIRECTIONS
CONTACT
​
DONATE
First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood   |   The Community Church   |   120 East Swissvale Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15218   |   412-241-4613