Author: Instructor

The Reverend John Foster, PhD
Sr. Pastor

A Call to Recommitment
Responsive Meditation Guide
for
ADVENT 2015
BIG BETHEL African Methodist Episcopal Church
220 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303

From Your Editor
Greetings, Beloved, and I welcome you to our journey together through the 2015 Advent Season! This year, we focus on recommitment. As we contemplate our weekly traditions of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, I invite you to consider ways to recommit to Christ and his Church. Thank you to all contributors, especially our youth! Enjoy, engage, evangelize and embrace each tradition with a renewed Spirit and prayerful heart — and so it is! Dr. Monica
Using the Devotional Guide
Hope, Love, Peace & Joy: A Call to Recommitment encourages us to delve deeper into thoughtful meditation by doing more journaling, creating special prayers for our own situation, and concentrating each week on how we may recommit ourselves to the Lord’s work.
Sunday’s Trumpet Call will come from the ministerial staff calling on us to focus on the theme for the week through consistent engagement of the Holy Word and prayer. A daily reflection with a scriptural passage (all NRSV, unless otherwise noted) will provide support for the recommitment journey during the week.
Then, it is the Week’s End Reflection on Saturday that is your opportunity to actively interact by responding to the week’s meditations, journaling about the things you did well (“What have I Done?”) and things you want to do better (“What will I Do?”) — be truthful! Also, you may write a prayer to inspire and encourage yourself for the next week. Your first prayer may be recorded on the next page, the others on Saturdays. We certainly urge you to enthusiastically participate in this interactive activity and prayerfully journal each week!

The Meaning of Advent
Advent is the Holy Season of expectation when we celebrate the coming of the Savior, and should not be confused with Christmastide. It is from the Latin term, Adventus Redemptoris. Advent is that time on the Christian calendar usually beginning with the 1st Sunday of December (this year, it falls on the last Sunday in November, as it does periodically when there are five Sundays in the month or when the 1st Sunday in December is in the second week) culminating on Christmas Day.
As do we at Bethel, many churches commemorate each Sunday, with a theme accompanied by the lighting of candles. Typically, Hope opens the season; at this point we declare our eternal hope in Christ. Then, candles are lit each week thereafter for Peace, Joy and Love (our order; it may vary). There is a Christmas, Christ, or Unity candle that some traditions recognize which is the fifth candle; it is to be lit on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or other designated day.
Bethel’s Candle Lighting: 1st Hope—Purple
2nd Peace—Purple
3rd Joy—Pink
4th Love—Purple & Christmas—White
Starting today….
Begin Advent with your own special prayer. Say it each day this week as you begin your Advent celebration! Then do this at the end of each week thereafter.
My own prayer for hope in my life:
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First Week of Advent—Sunday, November 29
The Trumpet Call: We Recommit to Placing Our Hope Only in God
...while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines Hope as trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises. The commentary interprets the above text as, “This is a blessed Hope, built upon trustful expectations provided by Holy Scripture.” Trust is certainly a state of mind, for we of the Christian Faith trust in God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The expectation is we believe Jesus Christ will come back again to gather his church, to bring us into his everlasting kingdom. As St. Peter states, our living hope acknowledges Jesus has been resurrected from the dead.
We can have continual hope through prayer, reading Holy Scriptures and Communal Worship with believers. Edward Mote (1797-1874) wrote the great hymn “My Hope is Built.” Let us meditate on the words of this hymn, which will bring joy to the soul. Holy Father you are God the Creator!
We praise you Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Continue to bless us with a lively Hope, a blessed Hope in Jesus name. Amen. WS

Monday, November 30: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!
Text—1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Tuesday, December 1: My stress level is managed and relieved because my hope in Jesus has allowed me… an imperfect being… to seek to be more like him.
Text—Romans 5: 3-4 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Wednesday, December 2: I have hope, because the track record of Jesus solving my concerns is 100 percent!
Text—1 John 3:3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Thursday, December 3: You can’t bring hope to others without first sharing the power of Jesus Christ.
Text—Hebrews 6:11-12 And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Friday, December 4: Prayer, the equation for hope!
Text—2 Thessalonians 2:16-17a Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts...

Hope—Daily Reflections E.J.

Week’s End Reflection on Recommitment
Saturday, December 5
What have I Done?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What Can I Do?
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My favorite Bible verse:
My own prayer to start the week and for peace in my life:
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second Week of Advent—Sunday, December 6
The Trumpet Call: We Recommit to Being an Instrument of Peace in Our World through Christ Jesus

Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27

Peace—Daily Reflections S.M.

Monday, December 7: Peace is Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Text—Isaiah 9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son
given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and
he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Tuesday, December 8: Peace is built on faith in God!
Text—Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, December 9: Peace means you are calm, collected and poised.
Text— Romans 8:6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Thursday, December 10: Peace is a state of tranquility and doing good, even in the midst of a storm.
Text—1 Peter 3:11 let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.
Friday, December 11: Peace is giving the gift of thanks and gratitude to persons who are a part of our lives.
Text—Luke 2:13,14 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!”

Week’s End Reflection on Recommitment
Saturday, December 13
What have I Done?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What Can I Do?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My favorite Bible verse:
My own prayer to start the week and for joy in my life:
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THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT—Sunday, December 6
The Trumpet Call: We Recommit to Finding Joy in the Lord, Regardless of Our Circumstance

Joy

I have told you these things so that my joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. John 15:11. (AMP)
How we can have joy in Jesus? Jesus’ joy was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father. It was the joy of doing what He was sent into this world to do. Jesus prayed that our joy may continue fulfilling itself until it’s the same joy as His.
We can have joy in Jesus through continuing to follow His example. Like Jesus, when we have that perfect understanding of God, we have the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus enjoyed. This right relationship with God helps us find our joy there. When we find this joy, out of us will flow rivers of living waters of joy! So, let us pray to become fountains that joy in Jesus will flow through us to bless others. RH

Joy—Daily Reflections S.W.

Monday, December 14—Joy is the knowledge that the trials we face on Earth pale in significance when compared to the Joy we receive as followers of Christ.
Text—1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Tuesday, December 15—When we have true joy in Jesus, we have the strength to withstand persecution.
Text—Mark 4:20 And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.
Wednesday, December 16—This joy we have is based on our divine trust in Jesus, knowing that happiness here is fleeting.
Text—Colossians 3:3-4 ...for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Thursday, December 17—Joy in the Lord inspires a wondrous and awesome faith, loyalty and courage!
Text—Psalm 40:8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
Friday, December 18—The Joy of Jesus endures through all things and for all time.
Text—Luke 2:10 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…”

Week’s End Reflection on Recommitment
Saturday, December 20
What have I Done?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What Can I Do?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My favorite Bible verse:
My own prayer as await Christmas Day for love in my life:
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FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT—Sunday, December 20
The Trumpet Call: We Recommit to Sharing the Love of Christ with Everyone Within and Without the Walls of the Church.

Love

Love! What a wonderful and appropriate way to greet the week of Christmas Day! Because the Lord Jesus was born, then went on to minister and suffer, finally being victorious in his getting up, we know the true meaning of love.
When we recommit to sharing the love of Christ with everyone, we are doing as Christ asked of us. For Christ, himself, said that we cannot be his disciples if we do not love each other. This means we should love those we call our family and those we do not; those whose personalities we like and those whose we do not; those who are like us and those who are not — true love is not convenient; it is not always comfortable; it may not be easy for us. Yet, it is not about us. It is about The Savior who asked us simply, “to love one another.”
Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas! MJ

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Love—Daily Reflections The Children

(contributions by children from Youth Bible Study Class)
Monday, December 21: Our God gives us love! GG
Text—Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us.
Tuesday, December 22: Love is the meaning of God. KG
Text—1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Wednesday, December 23: God’s love is equal for each of us. JR
Text—Romans 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also.
Thursday, December 24—Christmas Eve Love is how you feel about special people in your life - they love you and you love them even when they are arguing. ZC
Text—Hosea 14:4 will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
Christmas Day: God loves us always! EG
Text—John 3:16 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
Have a very Merry Christmas!

A Call to Recommitment
is a publication of the
Department of Christian Education Ministries
Big Bethel AMEC Atlanta, GA
All Rights Reserved, © Copyright, November 2015
404 827-9711 www.bigbethelame.org
John Foster, PhD, Senior Pastor
Monica C. Jones, PhD, Editor
Contributors
RH: The Reverend Rosie Hunter
EJ: Bro. Everett Jolly
MJ: The Reverend Monica Jones
CP: The Reverend Charmain Purvis
SM: Sis. Shirley McRae
WS: The Reverend William Spottsville
SW: Dr. Sheila White
Our YOUTH WRITERS
ZC: Zaire Carmichael
EG: Emily Gonzalez
KG: Kimberly Gonzalez
GG: Geovanny Gonzalez
JR: Jennifer Ramirez

Often there is trouble within and around us. We search for peace, which surpasses understanding. While the world defines peace as the absence of trouble or the accumulation of things, the Bible has a different concept. Peace is a gift of God. The birth of Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to send the Prince of Peace.
Through the Holy Spirit we have peace in our heart to calm our thoughts in the midst of the storm. To place our trust in God allows us to say, ”It is well with my soul!” Moreover, it is the assurance of our Salvation through Christ. The peace of God unites us and makes for wellness in the Body of Christ, which is God’s Church. In this time between Jesus’ birth and return, let our call to recommitment be active, as we seek the peace of Jesus. I pray that we let peace begin with us; let it be experienced, and extended to others. CP

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