Mark 1:2-11   ² As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;  ³ the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"  ⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  ⁵ And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  ⁷ He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."  ⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Our devotion this week comes from the 2011 Advent Daily Devotional put together by Luther Seminary and Pacific Lutheran Seminary.  http://www.luthersem.edu/advent/pdfs/11.LS.DvAvnt.BW.printersspread.pdf

Monday, December 5

The opening of Mark’s Gospel reminds us of the decentering of God’s good news. We find ourselves not in the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem but outside of her city walls, in the margins, on the sidelines. The good news of God brings hope to those who find themselves in the peripheries of our world, but it also belongs there. As “a call from the ways untrod,” God’s good news of grace announces God’s presence on the fringe, God’s love that goes beyond the boundaries of where we thought God was supposed to be, and God’s promise that there is no place on earth God will not go or be for us.

God of love, in this Advent time, we anticipate your presence anew. Help us to look for your presence in those places of our lives where we least expect your love and grace. Amen.

 In our prayers this week:  Ann, Nancy (Carrie’s mom), Daniel, David, Brianna, Scott S., and Mike C.

God’s Peace