Laying the Foundation with Peace

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
    in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
    and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
    to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness
    before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
    the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
-Luke 1:67-79

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Artist statement by Hannah Garrity, Sanctified Art

In this image, Zechariah holds his baby boy. He speaks a blessing, a berakah.¹ For his neighbors, he answers the question, “What then will this child become?” (v. 66). The intimate love of a father with his newborn son is captured in this pose. Patterns of water pour over John’s little shirt. Zechariah sees what his son will become and begins to speak his future into being from the start. As dawn breaks over Zechariah’s shoulder, his prophecy foretells God coming into the world—of light dawning in weary spaces.

Zechariah relents. God has made Her statement. He could not speak until he de-centered himself from the story. He gives the name that Elizabeth has been called to give. Zechariah’s willingness to hear the call is the action in this moment. Traditionally, he would give his first born son his own name. His neighbors are shocked by the name he chooses to give, by the prophecy, by his being able to speak again. By removing his own personal and family legacy from the picture, he is truly able to give way to the greater narrative that God is calling him to participate in.

This is an incredible moment of humility. As I created this image, I asked God’s help in identifying where I can step out of the way to forward Her vision for this weary world. She knows. Her work is greater than my legacy.

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If you missed yesterday’s service “Preparing for Peace”, find a link here to watch:

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This Week:

Wednesday, December 8 – 12 noon Bible Study on Proverbs & Prayer
Wednesday, December 8 – 6:30 pm Choir Practice
Thursday, December 9 – 9:30 am Ladles of Love Meal Delivery
Friday, December 10 – 12 noon Prayer Call (563-999-1222)
Saturday, December 11 – 5:00 pm NYRDA Dance Studio will record their Christmas performance in the Fellowship Hall to send to nursing homes, you are welcome to come and enjoy their show.
Sunday, December 12 – 10:30 am Third Sunday of Advent: A Home for All (Joy); Children’s Music & Live Nativity; Testimony from Santa & Friends Ministry

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Christmas Outreach

Help us share a small gift with our neighbors at the Cottondale Apartments! Along with the weekly meals we prepare for them, we would like to offer them a small Christmas gift. Can you pick up some items while you are at the store this week? Please text or call Pastor Joanie with any questions. We need:

• 30 toothbrushes
• 30 toothpastes
• 26 bars of soap
• 28 washcloths
• 30 candy canes