(December 2, 2023) On this 1st Sunday of Advent, Deacon David L Hall cautions us to not let ourselves to be distracted by the secular focus of the season by drifting away from and forgetting the spiritual and repentance aspects of Advent. "Be watchful and alert."

PSAUME 51

03 Pitié pour moi, mon Dieu, dans ton amour, selon ta grande miséricorde, efface mon péché.

04 Lave-moi tout entier de ma faute, purifie-moi de mon offense.

05 Oui, je connais mon péché, ma faute est toujours devant moi.

06 Contre toi, et toi seul, j'ai péché, ce qui est mal à tes yeux, je l'ai fait. Ainsi, tu peux parler et montrer ta justice, être juge et montrer ta victoire.

07 Moi, je suis né dans la faute, j'étais pécheur dès le sein de ma mère.

08 Mais tu veux au fond de moi la vérité ; dans le secret, tu m'apprends la sagesse.

09 Purifie-moi avec l'hysope, et je serai pur ; lave-moi et je serai blanc, plus que la neige.

10 Fais que j'entende les chants et la fête : ils danseront, les os que tu broyais.

11 Détourne ta face de mes fautes, enlève tous mes péchés.

12 Crée en moi un coeur pur, ô mon Dieu, renouvelle et raffermis au fond de moi mon esprit.

13 Ne me chasse pas loin de ta face, ne me reprends pas ton esprit saint.

14 Rends-moi la joie d'être sauvé ; que l'esprit généreux me soutienne.

15 Aux pécheurs, j'enseignerai tes chemins ; vers toi, reviendront les égarés.

16 Libère-moi du sang versé, Dieu, mon Dieu sauveur, et ma langue acclamera ta justice.

17 Seigneur, ouvre mes lèvres, et ma bouche annoncera ta louange.

18 Si j'offre un sacrifice, tu n'en veux pas, tu n'acceptes pas d'holocauste.

19 Le sacrifice qui plaît à Dieu, c'est un esprit brisé ; tu ne repousses pas, ô mon Dieu, un coeur brisé et broyé.

20 Accorde à Sion le bonheur, relève les murs de Jérusalem.

21 Alors tu accepteras de justes sacrifices, oblations et holocaustes ; alors on offrira des taureaux sur ton autel.

“Lent is not just about giving something up. It is about preparing ourselves for the feast.”

Sermon text: Luke 4:1-13

Psalm 51

The ending of Psalm 51 is pretty surprising. Andrew and Edwin discuss why this psalm moves from individual penitence to communal. What do we learn about our sin and our penitence from this shift?

Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.
 
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Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.
 
Thanks for talking about the text with us today.

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Marriage is awesome! At least, that's what God designed it to be. And for nearly all of us, when we first got married, we had awesome expectations. Whatever the state of your home, you can see things get even better by looking at SIX SIMPLE IDEAS.

Maybe you aren't yet married, or maybe you are no longer married. I assure you, these ideas are also for you. Maybe they can prepare to you get way ahead of the game. Or maybe you can share these with loved ones who need more hope in their home. 

This week we will look at the MIRROR and the TRIANGLE. Next week we turn to the Strategy and the Secret.  And, Lord willing, things will wrap up with the Myth and the Passage.

- Is a better marriage possible for every couple?

- Can we boil down all marriage teaching into six simple things?

- Why do I need to start with the mirror?

- What is my part of the triangle and how can I change the shape of things?

- Will you pray this week that God will help you think on and grow in these area?

Kelsey and Sarah sit down and talk about the meaning of Lent.  Lent is the liturgical season in the Christian calendar that represents the 40 days Jesus went to the desert before his death.  The season begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.  Kelsey and Sarah explore the ways in which Lent has been used to as a theology of shame and guilt and how we might offer a theology of original goodness to help modern believers to find a balance in our tradition’s season of penitence.