FPC Bellingham

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Don Lotze, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Jocelyn Meyer.

Isaiah 11:6-9 

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Steve Thames. Steve also joins Doug and Kerrie in reflection for today's passage.

Isaiah 11:1-5

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Amanda Blue, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Addie Ward. We are also blessed with a special musical offering from Tara Ward.

Luke 1:46-56

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Mel Freal, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Mikyn Sygitowicz.

Luke 1:39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”`

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Joan Lotze, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Jan Dougherty.

Revelation 4:8-11

“Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by James Murphy, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Annika Morse.

Luke 2:8-20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Brian Murphy, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Ann Hinz.

Isaiah 7:13-16

Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Gannon McSharry, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Fred Hartsook.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Joe Cowen, and Doug and Kerrie are joined in reflection by special guest Steve Thames.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

Welcome to the FPC Advent Podcast, where Pastor Doug and Pastor Kerrie spend a few minutes wondering about God's presence in Advent scriptures, as read by people from our community. We invite you to listen and reflect with us.

Today's scripture is read by Nancy Cowen.

Galatians 4:4-7 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.