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Love Has Come Near

24 Dec
Love Has Come Near

Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025

Luke 2:1–14
Love Has Come Near

On this holy night, love does not arrive with fanfare or force. It comes quietly, in a stable, under the cover of darkness, wrapped in vulnerability. God chooses nearness over power, presence over perfection.

The world Christ enters is not calm or orderly. It is crowded, uncertain, and restless, much like our own. Yet this is exactly where God chooses to dwell. Not waiting for everything to be right, but coming close in the middle of it all.

Tonight, we remember that love does not stand at a distance. It steps into our lives as they are. It meets us in our fears, hopes, longings, and needs. The angels’ song announces peace, not because the world is suddenly fixed, but because God is with us.

As candles are lit and voices rise in song, receive this truth: Christ is born for you. Love has come near.

Prayer:
God with us, thank you for coming close. Fill our hearts with wonder, peace, and gratitude as we welcome the birth of Christ. Amen. 

Merry Christmas! 

 
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Posted by on December 24, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Economics, Family, Life, Media, Philosophy, Podcasts, Postcolonial, Postmodern, Religion, Spirituality, Student life, Theology, Uncategorized

 

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Ready or Not

13 Dec
Ready or Not

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Luke 1:39–45

Ready or Not

This past week, we spent hours in the Compassion Hub Closet, sorting and hanging clothes, clearing tables, and making room for yet another wave of generous donations. The work felt never-ending. Even when others joined in and helped for hours, there was still more to do. Eventually, I had to stop, not because everything was finished, but because I was simply done for the day.

That feeling isn’t limited to the closet. It’s the same in my office, and it’s the same in Advent. We prepare and prepare, cleaning, organizing, planning, and hoping to feel “ready.” Yet the work is never truly complete. In Luke’s Gospel, Mary doesn’t wait until everything is settled before she moves forward. She carries Christ into the world amid uncertainty, interruption, and unfinished plans.

As we move closer to Christmas, we are reminded that Christ does not wait for perfect conditions. Ready or not, Christ comes. We’re not called to finish everything, but to make space, to show up with willing hearts and trust that God meets us right where we are.

Prayer:
Faithful God, when our work feels unfinished, and our lives feel full, remind us that your coming does not depend on our perfection. Help us make room for Christ with open hearts and steady trust. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 13, 2025 in Church, Community, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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God’s Calling

31 May
God’s Calling

5.31.24

This past Sunday, we explored Isaiah’s encounter with God’s incredible majesty in the temple. It was a powerful reminder that even a prophet felt unworthy of God’s presence. We all need forgiveness, and this passage highlights the extraordinary nature of God’s grace. We stand small before God, utterly dependent on God’s mercy for restoration.

Isaiah’s courageous response, “Here am I: send me!” should inspire us to answer God’s call. As we celebrated Memorial Day on Monday, we honor the men and women who served our country, who answered the call to duty, some giving the ultimate sacrifice. Their bravery is a strong reminder of what it means to truly answer a call.

As Christians, we are called. Not to battlefields, perhaps, but to serve God in whatever way God leads us. It might be big or small, public or private, but the call is there. Just like Isaiah, we might feel a flicker of fear or unworthiness, but the message was clear: God equips those God calls.

God’s calling you!

Sela Finau

 
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Posted by on May 31, 2024 in Church, Community, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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