Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John

Greetings to all our Sisters and Brothers in Christ during this season of Advent!

Advent is a season of waiting with anticipation, alertness, and watchfulness. It is a time to prepare ourselves to be ready for the presence of Christ Jesus in our lives, to live faithfully and hopefully knowing that God's reign is at hand. It is a call to read "the times," to look upon and understand "the signs." What are the "signs" in our "time"? In Mark's Gospel, Jesus spoke about persecutions and "wars and rumors of war," about earthquakes and famines, about "nations rising up against nations." 

How are we to relate national and international discord, natural disasters and disease of great proportions, extreme poverty and homelessness to the impact of God's incoming activity in our lives? How are we to discern God's presence or perceived absence in our troubled world? How are we to measure the scale of time from beginning to end in our present experiences? The early Christian communities struggled with understanding what life would be like following Jesus' death and resurrection and an expectation of the fulfillment of God's reign here on earth; would they be able to "see" Jesus again? Many came to believe in an "end-time," and that that time was drawing near. Therefore, similar to our Advent expectations and preparations, many Christian communities in the late first century called upon the believers to be faithful, hopeful, and morally upright in their daily lives.

The narrator of 1 Peter wrote, "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen" (4:7-11).

We as people of faith are not given the knowledge of the "when" that all this is to occur; predicting an 'end-time" is not a gift of the Spirit that we are given. As Jesus stated in Mark 13, "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Though we are not able to fully discern the "time," nevertheless we are called to be faithful, hopeful, expectant, and alert in our day that we may share God's love and peace with one another as the narrator of 1 Peter indicated.

May this season of Advent find us alert and awake to the incoming activity of God in our lives and may God find us faithful and hopeful and filled with God's love to be shared throughout the world. Blessings and peace!   Pastor John