Merry Christmas! Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God. Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love. Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so …
Untriumphantly: Who Doesn’t Love a Baby?
This last week of Advent is the week of Love! Awake! Awake, Tziyon!Clothe yourself with your strength!Dress in your splendid garments,Yerushalayim, the holy city!For the uncircumcised and the uncleanwill enter you no more.Shake off the dust! Arise!Be enthroned, Yerushalayim!Loosen the chains on your neck,captive daughter of Tziyon!For thus says Adonai:“You were sold for nothing,and you will …
Untriumphantly: Love Came Down
This last week of Advent is the week of Love! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being.In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.The light shines …
Untriumphantly: No One Wants Bought Love
This last week of Advent is the week of Love! “All you who are thirsty, come to the water!You without money, come, buy, and eat!Yes, come! Buy wine and milkwithout money — it’s free!Why spend money for what isn’t food,your wages for what doesn’t satisfy?Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well,you will enjoy …
Untriumphantly: Do All Things In Love
This last week of Advent is the week of Love! “Everything is permitted,” you say? Maybe, but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permitted?” Maybe, but not everything is edifying. No one should be looking out for his own interests, but for those of his fellow. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising questions …
Untriumphantly: The Joy of Good News
This third week of Advent is the week of Joy! Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva. When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke up in a loud …
Untriumphantly: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
This third week of Advent is the week of Joy! On that day you will say:“I thank you, Adonai,because, although you were angry at me,your anger is now turned away;and you are comforting me.“See! God is my salvation.I am confident and unafraid;for Yah Adonai is my strength and my song,and he has become my salvation!”Then you will joyfully draw …
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Untriumphantly: Deeper Than Happy
This third week of Advent is the week of Joy! But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai,a shoot will grow from his roots.The Spirit of Adonai will rest on him,the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,the Spirit of counsel and power,the Spirit of knowledge and fearing Adonai —he will be inspired by fearing Adonai.He will not judge by …
Untriumphantly: Joy in Simple Things
This third week of Advent is the week of Joy! In the days of Herod, King of Y’hudah, there was a cohen named Z’kharyah who belonged to the Aviyah division. His wife was a descendant of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. Both of them were righteous before God, observing all the mitzvot and ordinances of Adonai blamelessly. But they had no children, …
Untriumphiantly: Gratefulness
This third week of Advent is the week of Joy! Then Miryam said,“My soul magnifies Adonai; and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,who has taken notice of his servant-girl in her humble position.For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed! “The Mighty One has done great things for me!Indeed, his name is holy; and in every generation he has mercy on …
Notes From the Parsonage 