Friday, January 15, 2010
Second Anniversary!
ViaCordis celebrates its 2nd anniversary this month. At the first gathering, two women and two men met at a house in Pasadena, CA to share life, study the Bible, pray for others and discuss ways to love the communities in which they live. Before the first service they were cautioned by more experienced house church members to keep looking outward beyond themselves. They heeded this advice. Almost all who attend ViaCordis make community service a priority. Tonight eight will gather for Facilitator Orientation so that they can offer practical support to those wishing to improve life skills including parenting and anger management.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Advent, week 4
Here's Fourth Sunday of Advent
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – MAGI
3 PURPLE AND ONE PINK CANDLE
Scripture: Mt 2:1-12
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
LIGHT 3 PURPLE CANDLES AND ONE PINK
The wise men had been seeking the One born King of the Jews. No one knows from what country they came or what studies led them to leave home seeking. It is clear that God wanted them to find the Baby because He put signs in the heavens and in ancient prophecies that lead them, enabling them to find. God’s Word tells us to seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are to seek God in the morning, and continually. He calls us to seek His face while humbly turning from our wicked ways. If we seek God and His Kingdom above all else, the promise is repeated often: God will be found and He will hear, heal and provide. Christmas is God’s answer to the longing and searching of every man, woman and child.
PRAYER: Jesus, like the wise men we come seeking You, sometimes from far places. You are behind us, before us, underneath us, above us and in us. In You we live and move and have our fullest being. Thank you for your perfect plan which reveals Your love more and more as we search for You. Amen.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – MAGI
3 PURPLE AND ONE PINK CANDLE
Scripture: Mt 2:1-12
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
LIGHT 3 PURPLE CANDLES AND ONE PINK
The wise men had been seeking the One born King of the Jews. No one knows from what country they came or what studies led them to leave home seeking. It is clear that God wanted them to find the Baby because He put signs in the heavens and in ancient prophecies that lead them, enabling them to find. God’s Word tells us to seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are to seek God in the morning, and continually. He calls us to seek His face while humbly turning from our wicked ways. If we seek God and His Kingdom above all else, the promise is repeated often: God will be found and He will hear, heal and provide. Christmas is God’s answer to the longing and searching of every man, woman and child.
PRAYER: Jesus, like the wise men we come seeking You, sometimes from far places. You are behind us, before us, underneath us, above us and in us. In You we live and move and have our fullest being. Thank you for your perfect plan which reveals Your love more and more as we search for You. Amen.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Advent, week 3
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – SHEPHERDS
ONE PINK CANDLE AND TWO PURPLE CANDLES
Scripture: Luke 2:8-12
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
LIGHT THE PINK CANDLE AND TWO PURPLE CANDLES
These shepherds were doing what they always did, watched sheep. Through the days lambs were led to the best pasture. This day the shepherds were given the night watch with the sheep. They lived with the sheep. God stepped into the shepherds’ daily routine and turned their world upside down. While going about their ordinary tasks an angel startled these humble people with the best news in the world: The Messiah is born! As if the heavens could no longer contain their excitement over this amazing news, thousands of angels broke through the skies with a joyful song. After going to see for themselves, the shepherds returned to their work but with what a difference! Now their hearts were alive with the miracle of what they had seen and heard. Praise filled them.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help us to remember that with you there are no ordinary days. Each day that we live in your grace is a day that is beyond the ordinary. We feel the joy of this. Joy yesterday, that you came into our world and forever changed it. Joy tomorrow, that you will come again and usher in the fullness of the kingdom. And joy today, that you give us opportunities to be Your hands and feet, so that our lives share the message of Christmas during this Advent season. Amen.
ONE PINK CANDLE AND TWO PURPLE CANDLES
Scripture: Luke 2:8-12
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
LIGHT THE PINK CANDLE AND TWO PURPLE CANDLES
These shepherds were doing what they always did, watched sheep. Through the days lambs were led to the best pasture. This day the shepherds were given the night watch with the sheep. They lived with the sheep. God stepped into the shepherds’ daily routine and turned their world upside down. While going about their ordinary tasks an angel startled these humble people with the best news in the world: The Messiah is born! As if the heavens could no longer contain their excitement over this amazing news, thousands of angels broke through the skies with a joyful song. After going to see for themselves, the shepherds returned to their work but with what a difference! Now their hearts were alive with the miracle of what they had seen and heard. Praise filled them.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help us to remember that with you there are no ordinary days. Each day that we live in your grace is a day that is beyond the ordinary. We feel the joy of this. Joy yesterday, that you came into our world and forever changed it. Joy tomorrow, that you will come again and usher in the fullness of the kingdom. And joy today, that you give us opportunities to be Your hands and feet, so that our lives share the message of Christmas during this Advent season. Amen.
Advent, week 2
ViaCordis has some begun some Christmas traditions that you're welcome to borrow and use in your own churches. We pray that they will bless you as they are blessing us.
We use an Advent Wreath to draw attention to the coming of the Messiah. This is the reading we will hear on Dec 6, the second Sunday of Advent.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT--BETHLEHEM
SECOND PURPLE CANDLE
Scripture: Luke 2:1-5
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
LIGHT TWO PURPLE CANDLES.
It was a crowded city that night, Bethlehem, the city of David. People from all over had returned to the city of their fathers. Here they would register and a census would be taken. Joseph and Mary looked for a place to stay. An inn. A room somewhere, anywhere. A safe place from the chilly night air. But there was no place. At the city’s edge was a stable. There, in a stable, Mary and Joseph found warmth and protection. They would stay here until a new day brought light.
Why God chose to send his son into our world as a baby of humble birth, born in common surroundings, we do not know. What we do know is that God reached out to all people including the poor and wealthy, the simple and the wise, the powerless and the powerful. It is possible to know God because He came to us, at our level.
PRAYER: O Lord! God of the little and of the large, your love is as universal as all creation, and yet as individual as my small heart. Here at Christmas, you embrace the nations. I open the doors of my heart wide to all You have planned for me. Thank you for your humility and love which made room for me. Amen.
We use an Advent Wreath to draw attention to the coming of the Messiah. This is the reading we will hear on Dec 6, the second Sunday of Advent.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT--BETHLEHEM
SECOND PURPLE CANDLE
Scripture: Luke 2:1-5
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
LIGHT TWO PURPLE CANDLES.
It was a crowded city that night, Bethlehem, the city of David. People from all over had returned to the city of their fathers. Here they would register and a census would be taken. Joseph and Mary looked for a place to stay. An inn. A room somewhere, anywhere. A safe place from the chilly night air. But there was no place. At the city’s edge was a stable. There, in a stable, Mary and Joseph found warmth and protection. They would stay here until a new day brought light.
Why God chose to send his son into our world as a baby of humble birth, born in common surroundings, we do not know. What we do know is that God reached out to all people including the poor and wealthy, the simple and the wise, the powerless and the powerful. It is possible to know God because He came to us, at our level.
PRAYER: O Lord! God of the little and of the large, your love is as universal as all creation, and yet as individual as my small heart. Here at Christmas, you embrace the nations. I open the doors of my heart wide to all You have planned for me. Thank you for your humility and love which made room for me. Amen.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Altar
Yet we also maintain a ritual that centers us in worship as we meet in our house churches. Each month a member is responsible for designing an altar to set up in the living room where we meet for worship. Right now the altar at one of the house gatherings consists of an open Bible on a cloth square with a light shining down on it. The Bible is laid open to Psalm 67 and the light serves as a reminder that God blesses us so we can bless others. The head phones signify and ongoing dialogue with God that involves both listening and talking. And the candle symbolizes Jesus as our one constant.
The altar changes living room or family room into a sacred space for the church gathering, then it gets packed up during the week. For the host, it provides a good visual reminder of sacred space and creates a boundary between your home and your church.
Monday, November 9, 2009
First Fruits
A German brother in Christ recently baptized his "first fruit" in the cold waters of a nearby stream. The person baptized - whom we'll call Peter- is a nationally known singer in Germany and is popular among fans of typical German folk music. Peter committed his life to Christ, confessed his sins and desired baptism - immediately! Please pray for Peter and his family as they seek to follow Christ in discipleship.
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