 18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25 NRSV Today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel tells of the birth of Jesus has Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, saw it. When he found out she was pregnant already ( from the Holy Spirit), he planned on quietly divorcing her. But the angel of the LORD speaks to him in his dreams, telling to not be afraid to keep Mary as his wife and to also accept Jesus as his own. The angel tells Joseph what is happening is fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah ( v.23). Joseph does as the angel tells him, showing his faith in God. Let us pray – Holy and Giving God , You loved this world so much, You brought Your Son Jesus into the world to save us all. Such sacrifice this world has never experienced before. Thank You for his virgin birth, thank You for His life and teachings to us all. It is in Your Son’s name we pray. Amen Yours in Christ , Rollie
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 Dear Family and Friends of Hillside United Methodist Church,
Advent: New Beginning Christian calendar ends on Thanksgiving Sunday and starts at Advent with the preparation for the birth of Christ and expectation for the second coming of Christ. For Advent 2020, our church is going to look at the book, Not a Silent Night: Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem, written by Adam Hamilton together. If you would like to get a copy, feel free to contact me at gilpyo.lee@gmail.com or 603-290-9436. Weekly Gathering at 7 pm on every Tuesday via Zoom We share individual’s thoughts, meditation, insights or ideas on the readings or scriptures. Everyone is welcome to join Tuesday Sharing Time at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3035851917?pwd=bzQ2NnJwOGJrS1FWTzZaY1d6TWVwUT09.
 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts1:8
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 The reading from the Acts of the Apostles speaks of the Holy Spirit helping the apostles as they go about doing their work to establish the church in Jerusalem. The selection from Matthew’s Gospel is Jesus’ charge to his disciples ( the Great Commission) for the work that is before them – to speak to all who will listen about the Good News – that salvation through Jesus is upon them !!! Let us pray please – Heavenly God, give us ears to hear these words, give us clear minds to understand their meaning, give us understanding to know what we need to do next. We need to help this troubled world know and understand that a God of love and caring is here, and that He has brought salvation to the world through Jesus, The Christ. Guide us Lord to bring this message. We pray all through Jesus. Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie  13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14,16-18
In today’s reading from Paul’s letter, he tries to help them understand a little more clearly about Jesus’ return ( the rapture, if you will). Because of what we believe, we have the bright prospect of once again being with our loved ones who have gone before us. When He returns to claim those who belong to Him, He will bring those who have physically passed from this earth too. Paul wanted to encourage and strengthen the Thessalonians on this matter through this part of his teaching. Holy and Eternal God, may Your great name always be praised ! Thank you Lord, that we have this to look forward to – that we will be able to be with those we love once again, when you come to claim Your kingdom. And we will never be parted again !! Hallelujah !! We pray all in Your precious name, Lord and savior. Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie  17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was a little less than two miles from Jerusalem. 19 Many Jews had come to comfort Martha and Mary after their brother’s death. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary remained in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you.”23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. John 11:17-25
Today’s reading from John’s Gospel ( only a portion is printed here…) is a telling of what is arguably Jesus’ most dramatic miracle, or “sign” as John would call them – raising Lazarus from the dead. These signs are visible proof that Jesus is God, in the flesh. Before returning to this area, Jesus had a couple of run-ins with the High Priests , then left the area where their influence was not strong. Jesus was close to Lazarus, and his passing motivated Jesus to return. After the raising is witnessed, this brought about a renewed commitment from the High Priests to see to it that Jesus must die. Let us pray – Great and Powerful one, we thank you for the love you showed to all of us when you brought Your Son into this world. You did not want to condemn it ; No, You showed for all to see just how much You do love us – even though mankind is of a sinful nature, Christ bore all of the sins upon Himself, and died on the cross. For those who believe, death is forever vanquished, salvation can be ours !! Praise Your Holy Name, and praise to Jesus, in whose Name we pray. Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie  50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 In today’s reading from Paul’s letter, he speaks with great passion of the day when Christ returns to claim those who are His own. In that moment, whether they are living or deceased, they will be transformed as God promised. Death will be defeated, permanently !! Sin brings death, but we can be victorious over that death by having faith and belief in The Anointed One, Jesus. Let us pray : Holy and Loving God, it is through Your great love for this hungry and thirsting world that we indeed will be able to claim this victory – death will be vanquished, forever. Because Jesus took our sins upon Himself and brought it all to the cross. He died and is risen again………..hallelujah !! Praises to our Lord and Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen Yours in Christ , Rollie  46 Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
47 In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. 48 He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored 49 because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name. 50 He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. 51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. 52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. 54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, 55 just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” Luke 1:46-55 In today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel, We find The Magnificat, which is Mary’s hymn of praise to The Holy One. It is her response of joy and worship at the announcement that God is bringing salvation, and He has chosen her, which overwhelms her soul. In this powerful and beautiful statement, she tells how God works – He does not use the mighty and powerful , He uses the weak and lowly to bring about His strength and glory. Holy and Glorious One, we do praise You – for You alone are The Most High God. Through Your servant Mary, you brought healing and salvation to a hungry and thirsting world – we thank You, Mighty One, for Jesus, Your Son , in whose we pray. Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 16:34-36 In todays reading, we actually find one of David’s psalms of thanks. In the beginning of this reading, two things are mentioned that are hallmarks of God : How good He is and how deep His love is. Giving Him praise ands thanks for His goodness towards us and how much we know He loves us is very important for us to be doing. So much of our worship time should and do revolve around these things – praising His great Name and giving Him abundant thanks ! Let us pray please – Lord God, we pray as David did – we love You, and You indeed are so good to us all the time !!! Please accept our praise , we give You alone the glory You deserve, for You are The Holy One of Israel, and of our very lives !! Indeed, Praise The Lord !! Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie  Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines;though the produce of the live fails, and the fields yield no food;though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19 The prophet Habakkuk had full trust in God, that even though times could be difficult in many ways, that The LORD was not only strong and very real, He would be faithful to His chose ones. V18 and v.19 are beautiful words of praise to the God of our Fathers, words of exultation and rejoicing in Him ! Let us pray please – Holy God, our Faith Father – we want to be like all Your prophets , men of great faith and knowledge of You, we want to always have You centered in our minds and hearts, to serve You and You alone – for You are not only our Creator, You are our strength and our Redeemer. Help us to be good spokespersons for You in this world, we want to tell others of Your greatness, and of The Good News of salvation through The Anointed One, Jesus – it is in His name we pray. Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie  39 Now, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep the festival of the Lord, lasting seven days; a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day. 40 On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic[a] trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a festival to the Lord seven days in the year; you shall keep it in the seventh month as a statute forever throughout your generations. 42 You shall live in booths for seven days; all that are citizens in Israel shall live in booths, 43 so that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 23:39-43
Today’s reading speaks of The Feast of Tabernacles. The emphasis on this section is of remembrance – what the Israelites went through when God brought them out of bondage – note the reference to living in booths in v.42. These were something akin to palm tree lean tos or tents. Their beginnings were tough and their state of existence was quite desolate for a spell of time. The idea of keeping this feast is a way of giving praise and thanks to God for the bounty of our earth, as we do today with our Thanksgiving time. Let us pray together – God of Amazing Love –The fruits of this earth . Your earth, are true blessings. They were back in the times of the Israelites , and continue to be today. Help us to always remember that all these gifts are because You are The God of Love, The God of Blessings, The God of Abundant Grace. We owe great thanks to you, O LORD, through Jesus’s great Name we pray. Amen. Yours in Christ , Rollie |
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