Prayer: God of all things new, may we wait and watch with hope for what is ahead. Be with us as we prepare and share the Good News. Amen
Reading: Mark 1: 1-8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Raise your hand if you would like 2020 to be over already. Okay, all hands down now. I am writing this devotion during Thanksgiving weekend. On my last day of work before the long holiday weekend, I took down the calendar because the next time I would be there November would be over. I caught myself realizing, just before I tossed it into the recycle bin, “Oh, wait. We have another month to go. December. Right. Turn the page and put the calendar back up.” 2020 is not over yet. However, starting sooner than 2021 is the season of Advent - the beginning of a new year in the church when we wait and prepare for the birth of Christ. That was the message of John the Baptizer. Truly at this point in 2020, after all the months of wearing a mask and keeping social distance, we are looking and acting much like him. If eating locusts and wild honey would protect ourselves and each other from COVID-19, we would be doing that, too. We are waiting for a lot to be a lot different. What to do in the meantime? Prepare. Listen for the message. Something new is coming. Christ who is powerful. Baptism by the Holy Spirit. This is Good News! Share it. So, to get through another month of 2020, pretend you are John the Baptizer. Masked and socially distanced, share the Good News. I think I shall now go have a cup of tea with honey. --Ruth Gates
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