December 25 – Alan Sherouse

Luke 2:1-20

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.”

Once the shepherds have heard the news and the angelic spectacle fades, their first move is to go and see for themselves. The action makes good sense in the gospel of Luke. Throughout Luke, “seeing” is a metaphor for believing and perceiving the good news of Christ. The metaphor is used so much that some have even called Luke the “Gospel of Look.”

I wonder what the shepherds were looking for. Were they looking for anything like the justice and peace we long to see? Were they, like us, looking for the evidence that God was with them? Had they cried out with Isaiah in the passage that began our Advent guide, “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down” (Isaiah 64:1)? How many nights had they gazed at a sprawling landscape or an ominous night sky only to see nothing at all?

Whatever they were hoping to see, they saw it that Christmas day.

What do we see today? Do we have eyes to see Christ born among us again? Do we see evidence of salvation and new life? Can we see visions of love and peace and justice?

This Christmas Day, I hope that all of us might have the eyes of shepherds. Eyes to look beyond the ominous sky, the often empty landscape, and the challenging paths stretching into the distance and see once again that God is with us.

Did you notice what the shepherds do once they see? “When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.”

Let it be so for us this Christmas.

God-with-us, help us look around and see the good news of Christ anew this Christmas Day. Once we’ve seen it, help us to make known what we’ve seen.

Alan Sherouse is Pastor of Metro, husband of Jenny, and father of 22-month-old “Jack.” In all of these things he is one who sees that God is with us.

December 24 – Paula Nance

Galatians 4:4-7

In my family growing up—like many families, I suppose—we had a tradition of reading the Christmas story every Christmas Eve.  Images of shepherds, donkeys, angels, and a newborn baby wrestled with visions of sugarplums, reindeer, and sleighs full of toys, as we toddled off to bed to await the morning.  Our passage today from Galatians seems a bit out of place, filled instead with words of the law, slaves, heirs, redemption, and adoption.  The Lectionary selectors seem to be a bit out of their element with this one…

And yet…  At a time when our hearts and minds are filled with the celebration of Emmanuel—God With Us—it is good to be reminded that Jesus came, “born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law…”  At a time when we are focused on the Christ Child, it is good news, indeed, to be reminded that Christ’s very act of incarnation includes us in the family, that we are also God’s children.  Christ became like us—albeit still God—so that we could become like Christ, heirs through God.  We often talk about seeing Christ in the face of others, but Galatians invites us to see ourselves in the face of the Christ Child—members of the family, each and everyone.

Oh Lord, thank you for creating us in your image, making us a little lower than the angels, and redeeming us through Jesus, the Christ.  Thank you for continually reminding us that we are your children; create in our hearts the desire to act accordingly.  Amen.

Paula Nance has been a member of Metro for almost thirteen years.  She is an actor, teacher, lover of reading, listener of music, and Auntie-extraordinaire!

December 23 – Jeanene Mutchler

Isaiah 52:7-10

I have never thought of feet as “beautiful.”  I would imagine most, with the occasional exception, would share this sentiment.  There are other adjectives that come to mind, none of which are complimentary.  It is for this very reason that a cursory glance at the opening of this Isaiah passage strikes one as rather odd…

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger…

How could this messenger’s feet be attractive? He or she seems to have just climbed a mountain. They had to be in a dreadful state, so why call them beautiful?

The most unassuming things are made exceptional when they carry something valuable.  It’s like the old car that brings your loved ones home after a long journey.  Or the small jewelry box held in the hand of a man on bended knee.  These ordinary objects bring smiles to our faces, not for what they are, but for what they carry.

These feet were made beautiful because they carried a messenger who shared remarkable news- news of wholeness. The messenger declares that all that is broken will be repaired.  Peace, comfort, joy, redemption, and salvation have come to all people.

The advent season is about celebrating this good news.  We celebrate that God has provided restoration for the brokenness of our world.  We experience this on a personal level as God brings us closer to himself and heals the wounded parts of our souls.  But the good news does not stop there; it permeates the world around us.  God is at work bringing peace and wholeness to our society.  The good news confronts poverty, disease, sorrow, war, and social injustice.  When we participate in the repair of our broken world, we too become messengers of the good news and as we bring wholeness to our communities, perhaps our feet are made beautiful.

We thank you God for making the broken things whole again.  Help us to bring your good news to the world around us.    

Jeanene Mutchler is the teen center and family ministries director at Metro, the wife of Will, and a friend and relative to some truly lovely people.

December 22 – Nancy Lewis

Psalm 98

An excerpt from the 2008 Metro Advent Guide

“Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music”

That line from some song has been going through my head for 2 days now, ever since I finally sat myself down to try work on this passage for the Advent devotional guide.  I didn’t get much done.  Just had that song rattling around in my head.  I can’t remember who sang it or any more of the song or even if there is any more to the song.  I even wasted on hour or so searching for it on the internet. I found other songs that had the words “dance to the music” but not this one.

I was disappointed because I’d been thinking that I could use the song as an object lesson for this devotion.  Instead, it’s become an object lesson for me.

I’m guilty of missing the point or perhaps I should say missing the party.  This psalm is calling us to celebrate, to sing a new song, to let the rejoicing ring from the mountains.  Instead of focusing on the miracle of this season, I got sidetracked by an annoying line from an annoying song.

Have you been sidetracked by some little, annoying thing today?

Lord, we are awed by the miracle of your only begotten son, our savior, our prince of peace.  We don’t mean to be sidetracked by the little, and sometimes big, annoyances of everyday life.  We know that you understand, but we don’t want to miss the party and so ask that you nudge us back on track so that we can join and share in the celebration, in the joy of this season, in the wonders of your creation.  Amen.

A Metro member since 1985, Nancy D. Lewis passed away in October 2010. Nancy served as a Metro Deacon, RMM Board Member, gifted worship leader, and editor of the Advent Guide.

December 21- Robert Brunson

Luke 1:67-79

In the Scripture we often read of people being “filled with the Holy Spirit” and in this case we find Zechariah receiving such treatment. I’m fairly certain I’ve never been filled with the Spirit in quite the same way but I’m interested in the spirit that fills and works through each of us.  We see a certain spirit given voice with the Occupy Wall Street movement and the prophetic voices of our past that have changed the course of history.  We’ve also seen less noticeable “movements” within our own lives and communities–movements of compassion for the world and ourselves.

Our days have certainly seen no lack of voices, dissonant and otherwise.  Years from now, they may be written in a clear form for all to read like this prophecy from Zechariah, but for now, we’re left to navigate these voices together.  Amidst all the protests and politics, there is prophecy.  There is hope.   In what ways can you describe the spirit that works through you?  How can you prepare the way for others by offering hope this Advent Season?

Robert Brunson is the Volunteer Coordinator at Metro and RMM and also coordinates communications. He has worked with Metro/RMM for four years.

December 20 – David Massengill

Luke 1: 45-56

Mary: Radical Palestinian Socialist

Mary’s song is not merely a part of Advent.  It tells us about Jesus’s childhood, about how He learned scripture: from His mother.

Jesus almost certainly spent much his childhood with his mother.  And Mary’s song shows that she knew scripture.  It evokes Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, a song of joy by an expectant mother.

Mary had to love scripture.  The first words that came to her mind when she burst into song were from scripture.  They show what she thought was important:  respect for the humble, fear of the Lord, and a profound lack of respect for the rich, the powerful, the arrogant.

Mary sang of mercy for all the children of Abraham: the children of Ishmael as well as Isaac.  In modern terms, Arab and Jew, Palestinian and Israeli.  All are entitled to mercy.

Mary’s song was radical when she sang it.  It is radical today.  No trickle-down economics, just a God who will end inequality, who will seat the poor from the ash heap next to kings and princes.

We know Jesus preached these values, radical values that many call socialism.  And I think he learned them from his mother, as God intended.

Spirit of God, make us remember that Christianity is a radical faith.  Let us teach our children the true meaning of Christianity.

David Massengill is a very old member of Metro.  He is serving one of a seemingly endless series of terms as a member of Metro’s Board of Trustees.

December 19 – Angie Shultz

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph is probably the most fascinating character to me in this whole little soap opera.  We have Mary, the virgin, who is carrying the child of God.  We have the Messiah’s imminent arrival.  We have the angel who brings Joseph a dream and a little dose of instruction.

Of course, later in this passage, there’s a well-timed message brought to Joseph in the dream, and the rest is history.  In my opinion, his response to the dream isn’t the real surprise.  No, I think what’s really impressive is how he acts before getting the full story.

Even before the dream, Joseph proves himself to be quite the upstanding guy.  He’s determined to uphold Mary’s integrity, not knowing if he believes her tale to be true.   He could have instantly run to Facebook and changed his status to “single” instead of “in a relationship,” and without having said one negative thing would have spurred a flurry of “likes” and comments as people rushed to choose sides.  Instead, he decides to leave the situation as quietly as possible, hoping to spare Mary some humiliation.   It’s could be a terrifically passive approach.  How many of us would react the same way?

But Joseph knows what we often forget.  Once the words are released, it is hard to get them back.  It’s much more that way now, because it’s pretty much impossible to completely erase words from cyberspace.  I’m as guilty as anyone else of not being mindful of the power of the written or spoken word.  During this season when we celebrate the birth of a Savior and the extraordinary faith of a seemingly ordinary girl, let’s take one more moment to learn a little from Joseph… a man who raised this child as his own and who chose doing the right thing over being right.

Creator, please help me to consider the impact of my words before I speak them.  Give me the courage to choose first to use my words to uplift, to comfort, to bring peace. 

Angie Shultz is a singer/actress and frequent office assistant.   At Metro, she serves as a deacon, sings in the choir and joins committees, but tries never to attend meetings.

December 18- Becky Waugh

Luke 1:26-38

Once upon a youth retreat, I saw a mini-skit that went like this:  Mary is minding her own business and suddenly the angel appears, with a startling announcement:  Blessed is she among women – God has chosen her to bear the Christ child!  Mary’s expressions run the gamut from terrified, to stunned, to reflective.  Then she answers, simply, “No, I’d rather not.  But thanks for thinking of me.”  And she walks away.

New Testaments in hand, we know Mary will pay quite a price for this blessing.  Even from her immediate perspective, certainly she knew this would be no bed of roses.  She could hardly be blamed had she preferred to cede the honor to another candidate.  Did she have a choice though?  From this account it’s hard to tell.  Regardless, she chose – she chose to embrace the road ahead – and saying “yes” set her off on a journey of faith and hope.  The angelic message-service may have helped…

The pivotal moments in our lives rarely involve haloed couriers however.  And sometimes we are in a position to say “yea” or “nay” to them – but sometimes not.  Either way, though, we choose a response.  And we can be sure that the path of faith and hope is the one we’ll find God on.

God, help us to choose the path of faith and hope, even if the circumstances are not of our choosing.

Becky Waugh is a long-time member of Metro and currently serves as board president for Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries.  “On the clock,” she’s a consultant with The KonTerra Group and works primarily with organizations doing international relief, development, human rights, and immigration/refugee work.

December 17 – Thomas Belcher

Isaiah 61:10-11

“…For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

As RMM’s Coordinator of Direct Services, it’s ironic that I get a verse that alludes to clothing and food.  But then again, the imagery is perfect.  In the selection I included above, it makes a reference to clothing, while later in the verse it says, “For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”  In the same way that we understand the necessity of basic needs such as food and clothing, these verses draw us into the hope and anticipation, and most of all the necessity of God clothing us in salvation, and springing up praise and righteousness “before all the nations”.  When reading through these verses, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of “eager anticipation.”  It is for this righteousness and praise that we eagerly await while also recognizing the areas of our lives and of our world where we see righteousness springing up.

God, we thank you for clothing us in salvation, and we eagerly await the shoots of righteousness to continue growing. 

Thomas Belcher is the Direct Services Coordinator of Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries and has been a member of Metro Baptist Church since January 2010.

December 16 – Shonnie Ball

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-9

When these words were spoken by Isaiah and then again by Jesus in the temple at Nazareth, they were filled with promises of hope and justice.  For the desperate and lost and for those who had suffered great abuse, these were words to cling to for assurance of something better ahead.  The passage invokes powerful images of change – captives set free, mourners newly filled with gladness and praise, ruined cities repaired.  Truly, these words brought good news to people who were beaten down by life, by inequality, by injustice and devastation.

How important are these same words today and how difficult are they to cling to in the face of the inequalities we experience in our own lives, the injustices and the devastation?  Imagine the thousands of people around the world mourning the loss of loved ones who have died in the many wars being waged.  Consider families who were, at one time, middle class but are now homeless and penniless due to the downturn in the economy and the mortgage crisis.  Reflect on the stories of death row inmates who claim their innocence but face an insurmountable system of obstacles to prove it in time before they are put to death.

As I read this passage and think about the idea of eager anticipation in the Advent season, I am struck by how difficult it is to have faith in its truth.  I imagine that those who stood listening before Isaiah and Jesus also experienced this inability to believe that good news was just around the corner.  For this reason, I am thankful that the words were spoken to and meant for a community and not for any one individual.  In the context of community, we are more able to live out this good news because our doubts and misgivings can be expressed and shared.  We are not alone.  In our communities, we are able to build on the resources, skills and strength of the many to help bring about the good news that this passage promises.  We can stand up and fight together, with one voice, for equality, justice and liberty.

Part of the good news is not only that that we receive it but that we will be active participants in bringing it about.

Lord, in difficult times, we thank you for these words of hope and the promise of justice.  We pray for strength and increased faith in the face of inequality and for renewed energy to stand together.  We ask for courage to participate in ending inequalities, injustices and the devastation that surrounds us.

Shonnie Ball recently moved to Washington D.C. after 10 years in New York. A long-distance member of Metro, she has served over the years as a staff member, Trustee, and member of the RMM Board.