Lesson: I Corinthians 1:3-9. "The path of love is the pathway out of the dark and toward the Advent hopes of peace and justice for all. These goals are worth working towards – they are worth the wait."

Lesson: Psalm 34:1-10, 22; Matthew 23:1-12. "To be a saint is to be our selves, working together with God in the creation of our own lives; not some perfect or false life but a humble life, a servant life that is in fact an exalted life because of the connection to each other and to God that humility expressed in service makes possible."

"May we practice. May we find time, regularly, to dwell in the presence of our God – the Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. May we be still-enough that the love and peace of God be known in our hearts this morning and always."

Lesson: Jeremiah 17:5-8. "Yet, our faith tells us of a radically different reality–one in which we have access to new life, in which evil and suffering are not the victors, in which we are nourished by God to bear fruit in defiance of the powers of death."

Lesson: Philippians 4:1-9. "When was the last time you rejoiced? I saw a New Yorker cartoon with a father and son in a car, and the father, who is driving, says to the son, “If you bring joy and enthusiasm to everything you do, people will think you’re crazy.”[8]

No. They will think you’re Christiian.

Lesson: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20. "The path to freedom is through a wilderness of uncertainty and hard choices, and it takes a community of encouragement and discernment to help us figure out exactly how to love God and our neighbors, which is the only sure way we all will be free."

Lesson: Matthew 18:21-35. "We used to pray debts and debtors; many traditions pray trespasses rather than sins; but it all means the same thing. We are praying that God will forgive us, which Scripture says God does, freely, again and again, and we are praying for the ability and the will to forgive others – which does not come as naturally to us as it does to God and that’s why we need to pray it, week after week after week."

Lessons: Matthew 20:1-16. "Every creature God has made. Every single one, the apple of God's eye. God claims you. Today. That is grace. Reach out and accept the gift. May it be so for you and for me."

Lesson: Matthew 18:15-20. "Jesus promises to be with us as two or more of us gather.[1] To “Gather” is not the same thing as to “agree.” When we do the holy work of building community based in God’s inclusive love, God promises to be right there in the midst of our struggles."