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Saturday, January 4th

By: Bethany Apelquist
Psalm 148
Reflection—v.5b ‘God commanded and they were created’

God Commanded and they were created, I love that, I love that we serve a God who can create beauty out of nothing with a single command. In a world that is so often filled with war, and violence, and heartbreak I think that there is something that is deep within us that longs for God the creator to be close to us, we long for God to create something new. We long for God to show up and take most broken parts of our hearts, and our world and say the word to create something new, something better, something more holy. And while we celebrate that big awesome power of a God who created the mountains with a single word, I think where the real hope lies is that believe in a Creator who emerges in the bleakest hour to create something new, is that not what the incarnation of Christ is all about? That Christ showed up when the world needed him to the most to offer us something new- offer us a new creation, a new way of life. A way of life that resists the temptation of violence and says yes to peace, a way of life that hold heartbreak with tenderness, a way of life that is marked by more love, more justice, more mercy? This Christmas season may we celebrate the presence of the Creator among us, and work hard every day to co-create that new way of being.

Prayer: Creator God, inspire us to be co-creators with you.

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Friday, January 3rd

By: Kevin Whitside
Hebrews 2:10-13
Reflection—v.11 ‘not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters’

It’s clear that it’s not angels that Jesus helps, but people. Jesus was made like his brothers and sisters in every way and is merciful and faithful. In a practical realm, since he was human, it is kind of like he’s ‘been there, done that.’ He knows exactly what we’re going through, because he’s been through it! Particularly, I think of the humility Jesus went through. Jesus hung out with people like us, people like myself—those who didn’t have much, those who had issues, those who had vices—the people under the radar. Jesus decided to walk with people who didn’t have much. People who were talked about and even criminals. I think he put himself with people who needed him. But these were also the people he found value in. That’s what it means when it says, ‘brothers and sisters.’ I’m not perfect, but Jesus still values me as his own brother. ‘Why me, Jesus? Why stick around with me when I do so much that’s not God-like, that’s not Jesus-like?’ But he’s still with me. He still never takes his hands off me. He’s allowing me to turn my life around and that’s why I’m still breathing. I’m not perfect, my past isn’t perfect. But I try to live the best I can, and I’m truly grateful, because he hasn’t taken his hands off of me. He gives me another chance to live God-like, and I have to acknowledge that and live it.

Prayer: Christ, my brother, thank you for loving me. Help me to love myself and others.

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Thursday, January 2nd

By: Kevin Harris
Isaiah 63:7-9
Reflection—v.9 ‘he lifted them up and carried them…’

When I read this passage, I felt as though God had increased me completely. I was able to ponder and be grateful for the many gifts the Lord has allowed me to experience. This year it feels as though I have been tried like Job. But even in the midst of my hardships, God constantly tells me ‘you may bend, but I won’t allow you to break.’ God says ‘I love you’ to life and I trust that God wants my life to be full and abundant. My Lord has shown me the love of a community that carries the Lord’s shield when I’m faced with trouble. Through my community I’m reminded of God’s promise to lift me up–God’s promise to carry us all to health and well-being. Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by the tasks of mercy and grace, yet it warms my heart to serve. So when God calls, I try to just listen. I hear birds, trees, and family. In conclusion, what the prophet Isaiah is describing in this passage is life. I love love and I love God’s people. Amen.

Prayer: God of abundant life, in our times of trouble and strife bring us health and wholeness through your beloved community.

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Wednesday, January 1st

By: Bethany Apelquist
Isaiah 63:7-9
Reflection—v. 7 ‘I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord’

In a world that is often complicated and filled with violence and hardship, I love that we see Isaiah doing the brave work of recounting the gracious deeds of God. In November, I was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church by Mercy Community Church and First Christian Church of Decatur. That celebration reminded me so deeply of the gracious deeds of God. I was reminded of those moments, places, and people through which I have seen glimpses of God that are a little closer, a little more tangible, a little more of the God incarnate that we celebrate in this season of Christmas. So many of those moments have often taken place in this small basement church on the crowded street of Ponce. As I reflect during this Christmas season on God’s goodness, I can’t help but think of the faces of Mercy Community Church. Faces of those who have spoken prophetically, sung joyfully, and shared vulnerably. Every meal shared, every sound of laughter, every prayer lifted up in our community is a gracious deed of God. I have had the honor and privilege of worshiping with the Mercy Community for over five years now, and when I think about the gracious deeds of God, I count the Mercy Community on the top of my list. My prayer for you this Christmas season is that when you recount the gracious needs of God in your own life, your list includes all the love and warmth that Mercy Church represents for me.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for all the good things you are working in our lives.

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Tuesday, December 31st

By: Jill Oglesby-Evans
Isaiah 63:7-9
Reflection—v. 9 ‘It was no messenger or angel but God’s presence that saved them’

In The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek explores the concept of finite and infinite games. In a finite game there is a clear beginning, middle and end, the players are known, and all the rules agreed upon ahead of time. An infinite game has no clear beginning or end, engages both known and unknown players, and proceeds with ever-changing rules! At Mercy, worship is a joyfully played infinite game with few time constraints, unexpected players, and rules with which the Holy Spirit plays any way She pleases! Preaching at Mercy, for example, is a community event, ala lectio divina. After Scripture is read everyone is invited to call out a word or phrase that grabs us. When a word or phrase someone else brings up jumps out at us, too, we call out, ‘check!’ At Mercy you can trust that the presence of God will be made known not just through the voices of a few enlightened messengers, or simon-pure angels, or over-educated preachers, but through the voices and insights and struggles of the whole community. At Mercy, worship is a decidedly infinite game during which, through ALL our questions, doubts, fears, and wonderment, the lively love of God saves us, redeems us, lifts us up, and carries us through the coming week.

Prayer: Loving God, keep us ever humble, open and ready to play with the infinite ways you come to us through your creation and one another. Amen.

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Monday, December 30th

By: Matthew Hyatt
Hebrews 2:10-18
Reflection—v. 14 ‘he himself likewise shared the same things’

When I read this passage, the words empathy and understanding popped into my head. Often, when we are upset or hurt, others will do their best to comfort us. It doesn’t always work, but a frequent method of comforting is letting the person who is hurt know that they are not alone. We tell them that ‘I’m here,’ and ‘You are not alone.’ We also tell them that ‘we understand.’ Sometimes that isn’t entirely true, because we can’t fully understand what the person is going through unless we are that person. We can’t, but God can. Paul explains that God sent Jesus to walk with us, to suffer as we suffer, to go the extra mile and even die for us. God walks with us every moment of every day of our lives. God knows our struggles, our sorrows, our pain, our confusion. God knows because, not only is God there with us, but God stays with us. God was Jesus dying on the cross to show us that he will go the distance with us. God desires to go the distance because God empathizes with us. God understands what we are enduring more than any other person can. The writer also offers us some encouragement in that Jesus did not come to ‘help angels’ but rather the ‘descendants of Abraham,’ us. God knows we are not perfect so God sent God’s Son to spread the word about the forgiveness he freely and abundantly offers for our sins. This passage is a testament to God’s unending love and compassion for us, God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for walking with me; help me to empathize and walk with others.

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Sunday, December 29th

By: Jennifer Arnold
Hebrews 2:10-18
Reflection—v. 15 ‘free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death’

Recently, my aunt came very close to death. She ended up on a ventilator for several days. After this, my mom told me that she never wants to be put on life support because she is not afraid of death. Although I am saddened by the thought of my mother’s eventual death, this conversation was also very freeing for me. Her freedom from fear, frees me to also be free from the fear of losing her or not doing everything in my power to prolong her life. In the same way, I believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection can free us from our fear of own fear of dying. Jesus’ death reminds us that when there is big enough love, death is not the final word. Resurrection reminds us that love will always win. When we rest in the truth of everlasting love that cannot die we are finally free.

Prayer: God of life, your love is big enough to free us all from the fear of death so that we may joyfully live every moment in your everlasting embrace.

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Saturday, December 28th

By: Maggie Leonard
Titus 2:11-14
Reflection—v.11 ‘For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all’

I was recently privy to a conversation between two dear pastor friends, Rev. Cassandra Henderson and Terrence Smith, both of whom are much wiser than I am. They were talking about how easy it is to dismiss prosperity theology–the belief that God will graciously provide material wealth to the faithful. This theology is often times looked down upon in mainline, white churches and is often preached in poorer contexts. It feels cheap and icky. However, they went on to muse about ways in which more affluent contexts cheapen the love of God–through a theology of grace, undeserved forgiveness. Really, it’s all about what one needs. Poor people depend on God to provide for their welfare, because the state and their communities won’t–in fact those entities often place barriers in their way to achieving well-being. Conversely, more affluent people need spiritual grace. Their material welfare is provided for, but they know that they fall short of offering the love of God to others. They blindly hurt others through personal gain and judgements. But y’all, the good news is that the ‘grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all!’ I can’t help but think, if we notice our biases, we might be able to participate in God’s work of grace-giving, with no type of grace more special or ‘right’ than the other. This Christmas, let us give gifts of grace to one another! All of God’s beautiful children can get their needs met.

Prayer: God of abundant grace, help us to be grace-givers too.

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Friday, December 27th

By: Maggie Leonard
Luke 2:1-20
Reflection—v.11 ‘Your savior is born today’

Okay, so I know that it’s Christmas and we’re supposed to be really excited and happy, glorifying and praising God and everything…. But do you know what seems like it would be a real test of patience for me? To know that the SAVIOR IS BORN! …and we to have to wait for her to grow up so that we can be saved. It’s like that psych experiment where a kid is given a marshmallow and asked to wait 10 minutes to eat it, but a million times worse. I mean, I suppose it could be comforting to know that salvation will occur in my lifetime, but continuing to watch things unravel for years to come before salvation day would drive me bonkers. Kudos to the shepherds who were able to be excited right away! But maybe that’s why we celebrate Christmas every year instead of every 33 years. It’s not just about the end. It’s about the beginning. It’s about what’s possible. Each year is a reminder and encouragement to celebrate the gift of life, given to us by God. We can’t change the past, and I daresay we should not merely wait on the future. The calling is to join in Christ’s life now. As we join with God-with-us to make sure each person feels worthy of giving and receiving love, together we will change the end.

Prayer: O blessed Savior, come down to be with us that we may walk with you.

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Thursday, December 26th

By: Sarah Morrell
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Reflection—v. 3, ‘Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved’

The psalmist’s cry for the shepherd to mend God’s people is a reminder that the desire for wholeness and deliverance does not come easily. As we experience growth and transition in the process of recovery, we face various challenges and circumstances and cry out to be shepherded through brutally honest places in our walk. Yet, despite where we may position ourselves within our fears, doubts, and anxieties, God grants us signs of hope and possibility. Just as Joseph experiences anxiety over how to divorce Mary and yet still uphold her honor, God sends an angel within Joseph’s dream. The dream is a vulnerable yet mysterious sign that spurs faithful Joseph to willingly respond to the promise of caring for his wife and for Emmanuel, ‘God is with us,’ our Savior and Guide. As we continue in our walks of recovery, may we become more receptive and name the happenstances—the ‘accidents,’ or more appropriately ‘God-moments’—as we faithfully navigate this shared journey.

Prayer: Spirit, guide us, shine, and reveal to us your presence in the everyday—the extraordinary, yes—but especially the ordinary