ELCA Region 8 Devotions

Apologies and explanation

2007-02-21T17:44:00.000-05:00

My apologies to all of you who had subscribed to this blog to receive reminders about our Region 8 Advent devotions for 2006. For reasons I can't explain, many of you received a notice recently that a new posting - dated in December - had been uploaded.

Obviously, the Advent devotions are over, though I haven't deleted the blog in the hope that the region will decide to do them again next year. My only theory as to what happened is that when I created a new blog to serve as the reminder service for the Lenten devotions the DE-MD Synod is doing with our ELCA Partner, the Northern Great Lakes Synod, FeedBurner (our subscription service) got a little carried away and sent out notices all around.

So again, apologies for yet another Internet-based mystery! If you'd like to join us for our Lenten devotions, by the way, you're more than welcome.

Linda Lovell
DE-MD Synod communications coordinator and Region 8 devotions organizer

Mon., Dec. 25 - "Joseph's Song"

2006-12-24T12:22:00.000-05:00

How do we fit into God's plan? That's the question raised by Diaconal Minister Nancy Gable, coordinator for ministry leadership in ELCA Mid-Atlantic Region 8 in today's final devotion, based on the Christmas story in Luke 2.

Merry Christmas, everyone! And thanks for joining the congregations of ELCA Mid-Atlantic Region 8 on our Advent journey in 2006.

Sun., Dec. 24 - Mary's song

2006-12-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

In today's devotion, Ms. Linda Lovell, communications coordinator for the Delaware-Maryland Synod, writes about the contrasts in the beloved words of Luke 1.

Sat., Dec. 23 - The faithful witness of women

2006-12-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Mr. Tim Brooks, member of the Delaware-Maryland Synod Council from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, Md., reflects on the faithful witness of the women in today's reading from Luke 1.

Fri., Dec. 22 - Small potatoes

2006-12-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

Bishop Carol Hendrix, Lower Susquehanna Synod, talks about how God might use us "small potatoes" as she reflects on today's passage from Micah 5.

Thurs., Dec. 21 - Pause!

2006-12-20T08:57:00.000-05:00

Bishop Gregory Pile, Allegheny Synod, suggests a new way to read today's Psalm 96.

Weds., Dec. 20 - The elusive white-tailed deer

2006-12-19T15:40:00.000-05:00

Mr. Brandon Johns, youth member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod Council from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, New Castle, Pa., relates his experiences as a hunter to today's familiar "Keep awake" passage from Mark 13.

Tues., Dec. 19 - Hurry up and wait

2006-12-18T13:32:00.000-05:00

Pr. John Coleman, who serves Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, Erie, Pa., in the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, ties that fine old military adage, "Hurry up and wait," to today's reading from Isaiah 62.

Advent candles question

2006-12-17T16:09:00.000-05:00

I'm delighted that someone has asked a question! Although I can't answer it directly myself, I'm hoping someone else out there reading will be able to do so. Please leave a comment by clicking on the "Comments" link immediately below this posting.

What I did find comes from my source for virtually every church-related question someone asks: the ELCA Web site. Sure enough, I found a helpful write-up about the Advent wreath, its traditions and its changes. Check it out...

Linda Lovell
DE-MD Synod communications coordinator

Mon., Dec. 18 - Lessening anxiety

2006-12-17T14:14:00.000-05:00

Bishop Ralph Dunkin, West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, writes of how he and his wife have decided to lessen at least some of the anxieties inherent in the consumer's Advent in today's reflection on Philippians 4.

Sun., Dec. 17 - A startling question

2006-12-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

Pr. Judy Simonson, assistant to the bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod begins her reflection today on Luke 3 with a startling question.

Sat., Dec. 16 - Are you prepared?

2006-12-15T12:08:00.000-05:00

"Be Prepared" is Donna Kent's theme as she reflects on today's reading from 2 Peter 3. Donna is vice president of the Delaware-Maryland Synod and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester, Md.

Fri., Dec. 15 - Christmas 'stuff'

2006-12-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

"Christmas is about stuff." For how many Americans is that the philosophy? Pr. Dan May, assistant to the bishop of the Upper Susquehanna Synod, ponders that question in his reflection on today's reading from Titus 2.

Thurs., Dec. 14 - A Parent's Joy

2006-12-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod Communications Coordinator Karen Krueger speaks of the deep joy of a parent for a child in today's devotion based on Luke 1.

Weds., Dec. 13 - Holy time

2006-12-12T15:45:00.000-05:00

Could waiting become a holy time even for our impatient society? Pr. Denise Arpino, dean of the Altoona Area Conference of the Allegheny Synod and pastor of Simpson-Temple United Parish, Altoona, Pa., considers this question in today's reflection on James 5.

Tues., Dec. 12 - Changes on the way

2006-12-11T14:12:00.000-05:00

Change is Bishop Don McCoid's topic in today's devotion based on the familiar lines of Isaiah 40. Bishop McCoid serves the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod.

Mon., Dec. 11: Days of judgment and celebration

2006-12-10T14:04:00.000-05:00

Bishop Ralph Jones of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod writes of the day of judgment and the day of celebration in today's reflection on Malachi 3.

Sun., Dec. 10

2006-12-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

Today's reading from Luke 3 is a passage of contrasts, which are reflected upon by Mr. George Friedline, West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod vice president and member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Martinsville, W.Va.

Sat., Dec. 9

2006-12-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

Dr. Tommie Robinson, vice president of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod and member of Augustana Lutheran Church, Washington, is no doubt a veteran of lengthy backups on the notorious Capitol Beltway and other traffic tangles. He reflects on patience and rushing related to today's reading from 2 Peter.

Fri., Dec. 8

2006-12-07T16:03:00.000-05:00

In today's devotion, Delaware-Maryland Synod Bishop Jerry Knoche talks of his expectations for his grandson and the Israeli people's expectations in Isaiah 9 for the child to be borne in their midst.

Thurs., Dec. 7

2006-12-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

“And so we wait.” How often have those words caused you to sigh with impatience? Ms. Debbie Best, a member of Church of the Savior, Williamsport, Pa., in the Upper Susquehanna Synod, reflects on that idea in response to today’s reading from Zecharaiah.

Dec. 5 and Dec. 6

2006-12-05T08:21:00.000-05:00

Thanks for your patience, folks. It appears to take 24 hours from the time a new blog entry is uploaded for it to make its way through FeedBurner and notify subscribers, so we're going to switch strategies and send out the day's link on the day before. Here are two links - today's (which you'll receive one day late) and tomorrow's (which presumably will appear on time).

Tues., Dec. 5
Ms. Pat Savage, President/CEO, Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries, reflects on justice in relation to today's familiar reading from Isaiah.

One of the purposes for doing these daily devotions was to introduce people to the wide variety of people and church of the synods of Region 8. If you'd like to make a virtual visit to Pat's home congregation, Zion Lutheran Church, Hollidaysburg, Pa., click on the link below her name at the bottom of the page.

Weds., Dec. 6
Why do we put gold-covered chocolate "coins" in Christmas stockings? Ms. Judy Garber, vice president of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, explains in her reflection based on 1 Thessalonians.

Dec. 4 - Promises unkept

2006-12-04T16:10:00.000-05:00

Today's devotion, based on a reading from Jeremiah, is about promises unkept. It was prepared by Ms. Andrea Dubler, vice president of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod.

(Please note: Yesterday's posting was indeed uploaded yesterday. It doesn't seem to have appeared in anyone's mailbox until today, however. Please stay tuned while we try to figure out what's going on. Thanks!)

Dec. 3 - And so we begin our Advent journey

2006-12-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the 2006 daily online devotions for Advent! These were prepared by volunteers from across Mid-Atlantic Region 8 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Today's reflection on the stresses of the modern world and the Second Coming was written by Mr. Ed Harrington, vice president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod.

Please invite others to subscribe

2006-11-27T13:47:00.000-05:00

Where has time gone? We've eaten our way through Thanksgiving and are preparing to start our Advent journey this coming Sunday, December 3. Have you completed the easy subscription process for this blog to receive a daily reminder and link in your inbox? Look in the upper right corner of R8Devotions.blogspot.com and follow the subscription process all the way through, including responding to the confirmation e-mail that will come to your inbox.

Please encourage others to join us in getting ready for the Christ child by subscribing to the Region 8 Devotions blog. Simply click on the little white envelope with the arrow that's immediately below this posting - it's on the same line with "posted by" and "comments." Just complete the blank e-mail form with your friend's address.