Posts By: Rebecca Haden

What Are Those Orange Bracelets?

You might be seeing something new around the sanctuary and in the Gathering Place — orange silicon bracelets that say, “Being Cautious.” What are they for? Who’s being cautious, and why? They’re social distancing awareness bracelets. Wearing one tells people that you’re keeping your distance and maybe forgoing hugs or even handshakes. Who’s being cautious?… Read more »

Love Came Down at Christmas

Love Came Down at Christmas

Psalm 89:1-4 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to… Read more »

Silent Night

Silent Night

John 1:14; 16-17 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. …  Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses;… Read more »

Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven

Luke 2:1-7 Luke 2:1–7 recounts the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Under the order of a Roman census, Joseph and a pregnant Mary travel to the city of David, only to find no room at the inn. It is a demonstration of God’s control, using Caesar’s decree to fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah’s… Read more »

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

Song of Solomon 2:3 “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons”. The anonymous 18th-century carol “Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree” offers a simple yet profound vision of Advent hope. Its imagery reaches back to Eden, where humanity’s first longing for knowledge led to separation from… Read more »

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels We Have Heard on High

Psalm 96:11-13 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth…. Read more »

On Christmas Night, All Christians Sing

All Christians Sing

Psalm 96:1, 4, 13b O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. … For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. … He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. (NRSV) Children’s voices… Read more »

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O Come All Ye Faithful

Luke 2:15-18 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in… Read more »

He Shall Feed His Flock

He shall feed his flock

He shall tend his flock like a shepherd. Isaiah 40:11  This beautiful song from Handel’s Messiah is familiar to us as an image of Jesus as a shepherd, feeding his flock and caring for the lambs. “Come unto Him, ye that are heavy laden,” the song assures us, “And He will give you rest.” Rest… Read more »

Hope

Hope

Isaiah 40:9-11 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for… Read more »