The 2022 Advent Daily Devotional Written By and For Members of the Heartland District The Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church

November 2022 In July this year, District Superintendent Victor McCullough brought together leaders from around the Heartland District to create a dynamic and challenging Strategic Plan. Being faithful to this Plan will see our churches becoming better together, tackling difficult social justice issues, and learning to go deeper with Christ and each other. As we tackle these initiatives, we will be telling our stories and sharing our experiences all along the way. Collaboration, Outreach, Discipleship & Growth, and Storytelling: these are the initiatives that will certainly create God’s shalom throughout the Heartland, with Christ’s help. What you hold in your hands or see on your screens is the first fruit of the Heartland District’s Strategic Plan. As the champions of the Storytelling Initiative, we saw the opportunity to begin a new Christian Year by sharing reflections and experiences through a Heartland District Advent daily devotional. This book invites you to create God’s shalom in your own life by bringing hope, sharing love, sounding joy, and making peace as you prepare for the promised Child. All of these meditations are written by pastors and laity of the Heartland District, as well as by our Conference partners. We are grateful to them for their amazing contributions. This book is truly the voice of the Heartland. We pray that God will speak to you this Advent through your neighbors’ stories and reflections. Peace and Grace, The Storytelling Initiative Champions Wendelyn Perceful

Desi Sharp Brumit

Stephen Lashley

Thomas Hoffmann, Editor

P.S. We will be re-launching the Heartland District website on November 26th so that you can access all of these daily devotionals online: www.heartlanddistrictok.com

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Sunday, November 27, 2022 “The Hope of Advent” – Read Ezekiel 47:1-12 Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. (v. 12, NIV) On this Advent journey, we start by considering hope. “Hope” is a small word, yet it is a term that is powerfully significant. Hope makes a profound difference in life. Hope is viewed as a powerful feeling, even an attitude, that enables us to face any life circumstance and excel despite challenges. Hope has to do with “desire accompanied by anticipation or expectation.” Life and hope, then, may be a pair of twins. One poet wrote with profundity, “hope springs eternal in the human breast.” There is a well-known hymn of the Church that became a favorite in my seminary days in Atlanta. It ends with, On Christ the solid rock I stand, / all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. No one could have believed that in just nearly three years since the beginning of the coronavirus, the so-called solid grounds of societal and denominational unity, financial certainty, emotional security, and biological longevity would experience such massive shifts. We have been shaken. The reverberations of our complicated circumstances will linger in our hearts for a very long time. Not unlike us, perhaps the disappointed Israelites thought that they would never behold shalom again. Charting the waters of deportation, dehumanization, and captivity in Babylon, Ezekiel concludes his missive with the hopeful image of water flowing dramatically east from the threshold of the temple, all the way to the Dead Sea, miraculously giving it life. Despite how chaotic and unpredictable the world was, God offers a better picture. Ezekiel’s message declares the future God imagines for us, a future of hope and restoration. This Advent, we expect the birth of the Christ child. At the same time, we live with the faith that Christ Jesus has already come. His presence among us makes the lasting difference. Even in disappointment, hope springs eternal in the human breast. Lord, let there be hope on earth and let it begin with me. / Let there be hope on earth, true hope that was meant to be. / With You as our Father, family all are we. / Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. / …Let me take this moment and live each moment in hope eternally! Let there be hope on earth, dear Lord, and let it begin with me. Amen. (Adapted from “Let There Be Peace on Earth” © 1955, Jan-Lee Music)

Rev. Dr. Victor McCullough, Heartland District Superintendent The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Monday, November 28, 2022 “Hope Leads Us to Love, Joy & Peace” – Read John 1:19-28 “John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”’” (v. 26) It would not be a surprise to anyone that these past several years have been a bit of a strain on our collective sense of hope. With so much conflict surrounding us on so many different levels, it would be easy to become cynical, move away from the church, move away from empathy for those who need it. What used to shock is now unphased. What is needed is overwhelming. Thankfully it is also just as easy to see hope all around us. My husband is a professional Santa, yes, a card-carrying Santa Claus (and, no, I am not Mrs. Santa Claus). I greet this season each year with joy, peace, and love, but I always struggle with the hope part. Over the years, however, the struggle is less as I have watched “Santa” volunteer with several Non-Profits such as NSO (Neighborhood Services Organization) and KJE ( Kids Joining Eternity). Just as John is preparing a way of the Lord, NSO is preparing a way for those in need. I watch the faces of the parents who desperately want the best for their children, who have fallen on hard times and just need a hand up. NSO extends that hand up. Making hope a reality, not a Christmas wish. It is through our collective praying, giving, volunteering, and support of this ministry that lives are receiving hope for a brighter tomorrow. Kids Joining Eternity (KJE) is a place of hope when all hope has been denied. KJE is a non-profit for families who have suffered a devasting loss of a child. Each Christmas season, Santa makes his appearance to these hurting families, and this is where Christ shows me the miracle of hope during darkness. It is a sacred space for families to mourn; it is also a place of hope! Each year young families are gifted with rainbow children who come to see Santa. These are the most precious moments, to see the families who have suffered in the most difficult of situations sit around Santa with new additions and memories of loss captured in a photo. KJE is a huge part of a healing journey that never ends. Where hope was lost, KJE provides hope through acts of kindness, love, and joy. Lord, even though hope through Christ can be painful and messy, remind us that the way of the Lord is always available to us. Remind us that hope leads us into the love, joy, and peace of Christ through all our seasons of life. Lori Foster, Associate Director for Mission The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Tuesday, November 29, 2022 “The Rainbow’s Gift” – Read Genesis 9:1-17 God said, “This is the symbol of the covenant that I am drawing up between me and you and every living thing with you, on behalf of every future generation. I have placed my bow in the clouds; it will be the symbol of the covenant between me and the earth.” (vv.12-13, CEB) In the fall of 2021, my husband and I took a 25th-anniversary vacation to England, Scotland, and Ireland. One afternoon walking around Dublin, we turned a corner to see a stunning, bright, double rainbow! Could anything be more perfect to see in Ireland? Of course, I recalled the tale of finding a pot of gold at the end of a leprechaun’s rainbow. More importantly, I thought of the promise from God: “The bow will be in the clouds, and upon seeing it I will remember the enduring covenant between God and every living being of all the earth’s creatures” (v. 16). Noah and his family had just lived through a terrible ordeal. Imagine being on a crude, giant ark with thousands of animals during what would have seemed like an endless storm. The wind and rain battering the ship would have made it hard to distinguish between night and day, with restless animals constantly making a fuss. It would have been hard not to be completely consumed with hopelessness. When the darkness and rain seem to envelop your world in a constant state of noise and chaos, what do you remember? The gift of the rainbow was not only God’s promise to never again allow floodwaters to destroy the living (v. 15), but it was also a gift of hope. The gift of the rainbow tells us that in the most tumultuous times, God is still there, in the darkness, waiting to share a promise of hope in the light of a new day. Lord, help us to remember that you are ALWAYS with us. Even in our darkest times, you are the hope and the rainbow that never fades. Amen. Rebekah Hasty, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries Programs and Development, The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Wednesday, November 30, 2022 “The Final Word” – Read Matthew 24:23-35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt. 24:35, NIV) It’s hard to fight against our human tendency to want to “know.” And related to our faith, there’s an instinctive need to see where Christ is in the things we face and experience. We want to confirm our faith by “seeing” the unseen. In Matthew’s passage, we’re cautioned against chasing after claims of knowing where Christ “is.” The context for these warnings is a time of increased wickedness, upheaval, and wars -- a general breakdown of any semblance of order. Matthew paints a pretty bleak, apocalyptic picture of the human experience during this time. In such a hopeless time, where do we, as believers, find our hope? The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 124 that God is on our side. Without God’s activity and presence, we would have been “swallowed alive,” “overcome,” or “swept away” -- three powerful word pictures of what it feels like when we are experiencing a seemingly hopeless situation. Yet the final word in each of these passages is that God delivers us. The Lord protects us (Ps. 124:6-8). The Lord’s unfailing love and compassion are always present (Is. 54:10). And so, Lord, as we confess in The Great Thanksgiving: “… in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as together we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.” Amen. Rev. Edward Parker, Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Thursday, December 1, 2022 “A Hope for Today” (Ps. 72, Part One) – Read Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. / [The king] shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. (vv. 3-4, CEB) Growing up in rural Oklahoma in the 1980’s Christmas was an exercise in daily hope. We hoped the live tree would survive until the big day as pine needles scattered the floor. We hoped from the Sears Catalog for presents like Cabbage Patch Dolls, GI Joes, and Nintendo Entertainment Systems. We hoped we didn’t get the useful things like socks and underwear. We hoped to have the most special Christmas Eve with Grandpa and Grandma in Midwest City, where the tree sparkled, the Christmas lights were on the house, and the food overflowed. Christmas was the one time we were free and invited to hope and dream for something immediate. It was only years later that I realized that the anticipation that begins in my chest and warms my thoughts and hopes for the season is connected to the Christian practices of Advent—that is, hope! Advent is a season of active hope. And this first week of Advent anchors us on hoping for Jesus to come and finally make everything right with the world. Hopes and dreams from the days of the Psalmist echo today, hopes for a king to bring justice to people who are poor and save the children of those who are needy (Psalm 72:4). This isn’t hope in the long arc of time but hope for immediate relief. No one who talks about hopes and dreams for their children thinks it will take more than their lifetime to be satisfied. This is the hope of God’s hand in our lives right now, on a Thursday in early December. Do you, like me, remember childhood Christmases that invited you to hope and dream for something immediate? You may not hope for a new toy anymore, but yearning for a gift that satisfies your longing is a good thing. In this season of waiting, God is sending Jesus to come into our world. The Advent that we need sparks a flame of hope in our lives today. Hope that comes to us from God’s word. Hope that says Jesus provides. May your kingdom come, O God, with deliverance for the needy, and peace for the righteous, and overflowing blessing for the children—the children, O God, save! And set the spark of hope, not just in our hearts, but also in our hands. Amen. Rev. Shyloe O’Neal Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Moore, OK

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Friday, December 2, 2022 “A Hope that Overcomes” (Ps. 72, Part Two) – Read Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Let him judge your people with righteousness / and your poor ones with justice. (v. 2, CEB) I have had several opportunities over the years to lead and participate in civil rights pilgrimages through the South, where we visited historic sites from the civil rights movement. One such site is the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. In Selma, civil rights leaders had multiple confrontations with Sheriff Jim Clark as they tried registering to vote. After a group of white segregationists killed a peaceful Black demonstrator in a nearby town, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, John Lewis, and other leaders organized a protest march to decry the violence and support voting rights. The march would extend 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery. As they crossed the Pettus Bridge to embark on their journey, Alabama Troopers attacked the crowd with whips, billy clubs, and tear gas in a brutal scene that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” President Lyndon B. Johnson responded by appearing on national television and pledging support for the marchers in Selma, uttering the mantra of the civil rights Movement, “We shall overcome.” 2,000 marchers crossed the Pettus Bridge and walked for three days non-stop to Montgomery, and Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. I have stood in the place where Bloody Sunday happened. We prayed as a group and took Communion together on that hallowed ground at the foot of the Pettus Bridge. It was a powerful experience that reminded me of the Christlike sacrificial action those marchers took to overcome sin, death, and evil. The hope they had in God’s justice is the same hope that we receive in the act of Communion: the transformation of this old world is possible! In this week of hope during Advent, we are reminded that hope without action means nothing. The Psalmist calls upon God to act with justice, to defend the poor, to deliver the needy, and to side with the oppressed. Christmas is the act of God putting skin on all of that hope in the person of Jesus. May we, too, put hope into action this Advent-Christmas season. Lord, you will see us through. / Lord, you will see us through. / Lord, you will see us through someday. / Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe: / We shall overcome someday. Amen. Rev. Adam Young Senior Pastor, Sunny Lane United Methodist Church, Del City, OK

Week One: Creating Shalom means Bringing Hope Saturday, December 3, 2022 “A Merciful Hope” – Read Isaiah 40:1-11 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. (v. 1, CEB) Recently I journeyed through a great grief, and I am here today to bear witness to this passage from Isaiah. The mercy of God and his tender loving care carried me through the darkest hours and beyond. In a second, my beautiful life stopped; there was only silence broken occasionally by the weeping of my soul. I wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to hide; the destruction was too great. My beautiful 14-yearold boy had a bullet in his head, self-inflicted, they said. My heart was shattered. The initial days are all a blur except for a tender recognition of Mary as the mother of Jesus. Mary, the mother of God, whom I had only ever encountered in the Christmas story. In Mary, I found someone who understood, someone whose own journey as the mother of Jesus found her heart pierced at the foot of the cross. From the joy of His birth to the agony of the crucifixion, Mary understands what it is to be a mother. Mary stood by Jesus as he was beaten, tortured, and murdered. Though her heart was pierced, she was ever present, always loving, always trusting. Mary’s story gave me the strength to bear the journey ahead. Mary is here this Advent season for all of us, pregnant with Hope. As the weeks turned into months, there was slow recovery and much mercy. The climb to health from a traumatic brain injury is straight uphill. Were it not for the graces of God, I would simply have laid down and chosen to die on the path to recovery. It was beyond difficult. But Isaiah says in verse 11, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” From the prophecy of Isaiah to my own journey, how tenderly He kept me and my young ones in those difficult days. I hid under the wings of my Creator for weeks. Glimpses of hope pierced the darkness as my son awoke. Hope soothed my parched soul, and I was consoled by my Maker. Close to the heart of God, there is much mercy. Shepherding God, guide us through this season of anticipation and hope. Comfort our troubled minds and strengthen our tired bodies. Restore the hope this season offers, that we might lift our voices with strength and joy! Level the rocky ground, that we might prepare for your arrival in our world. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen. Dr. Yaz Johnson Member, Wesley United Methodist Church, Shawnee, OK

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Sunday, December 4, 2022 “Love is the Model” – Read Matthew 3:1-12 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (v. 11, NIV) John came before Jesus, preparing the way. He made sacrifices in his life, opened minds and hearts around him, and heard the deep confessions of friends and strangers--all while humbly extending God’s love. He knew that he was preparing the people for another. He lived and served authentically. This scripture reminds me of the mentors in my life and ministry. The utmost model of authenticity and humility is my father. Raised in Holdenville, OK, he and his little brother experienced the untimely death of their father. My dad was told at a young age that he had to become the man of the house. He began caring for his family and became his younger brother’s role model. Dad was my hero in the faith, having us sit together as a family in the second pew on the left every Sunday morning, volunteering at church for leadership positions, teaching his Sunday School class, and in the 1960s, sponsoring the Methodist Youth Fellowship my siblings and I enjoyed. He taught us to care for one another as Jesus cared for us. My father loved his family. Dad modeled compassion, caring, and humility. He taught us to be generous as he gave to ministries and missions. He encouraged each of us in whatever we chose to pursue. He laughed with us, played basketball in the driveway, tried to teach me to drive, and attended every activity, ball game, dance recital, and school program. Since he was 6’4” tall, he was easy to spot in a crowd, his smile towering over all the other dads. His family was his priority. My father was also the first person I told I was being called into the ministry. He later told the Bishop that my ordination could change the church (I am still not sure what my dad had in mind, but I treasure the memory of overhearing that conversation). Whom do you precede? What model are you setting for those following your footsteps? How is God grooming you to pass along that Jesus is Messiah? Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart. / Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart. / In my heart, in my heart, / Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart. Amen. Rev. Linda Brinkworth Retired Elder, the Heartland District

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Monday, December 5, 2022 “A Meditation on Love, inspired by the Ancients” – Read 1 John 4:19-21 We love because he first loved us. (v.19, NIV) O Lord, your servant St. Basil once said in the 4th century, “I cannot persuade myself that without love to others and without, as far as rests with me, peaceableness towards all, I can be called a worthy servant of Jesus Christ.” And so I pray: Lord, may I be of the same mind as this saint. (Silent reflection) Lord, your servant St. John Climacus once said in the 7th century, “Do not search about for the words to show people that you love them. Instead, ask God to show them your love without your having to talk about it. Otherwise you will never have enough time, enough both for loving gestures and for explanation.” And so I pray: Lord, may I be known as a Christian because of what I do, and not just what I say. (Silent reflection) Lord, your servant Abba Dorotheus once said in the 6th century, “Do not require love from your neighbor, for he who requires it is troubled if he does not encounter it. Rather, .. . . show love toward your neighbor, and in this way bring your neighbor to love.” And so I pray: Lord, let me share your love with those around me--expecting nothing in return--so that they, too, might be transformed. (Silent reflection) Lord, your servant St. John Chrysostom once said in the 4th century, “There is not a single sin which the power of love, like fire, would not destroy. It is easier for feeble brushwood to withstand a powerful flame than for the nature of sin to withstand the power of love. Let us increase this love in our souls in order to stand with all the saints, for they, too, all pleased God well through their love of neighbor.” And so I pray: Lord, let my life burn with your divine love! Let me love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and let me love my neighbor as myself. Amen. Rev. Dr. Thomas Hoffmann, Retired Elder Connections Coordinator, the Heartland District

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Tuesday, December 6, 2022 “The Family that Loves Together Learns Together” – Read Romans 15:14-21 “

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” (v. 14, NIV) When our daughter was ready for kindergarten, we enrolled her in our public school’s “magnet” multicultural school. We were excited, but it meant she would have to ride a special bus to school each day—with a 20-mile round trip! But our daughter said she wanted to try it. On the first day of school, we all waited for the bus: my wife and me, our daughter, her younger brother, and her great-aunt. We waited and waited. But because of confusion at the start of a new school year, no bus ever showed. Our daughter missed her first day of school. That waiting, pregnant with anticipation, seemed like an eternity. When we ask our now-adult daughter about this, she doesn’t remember the waiting or even missing school that day. She only remembers that what we had promised her soon came true: she experienced an amazing year of new adventures, friends, and teachers (and really long bus rides!). Advent is about waiting for something wonderful to happen, something that comes at just the right time. Advent reminds us that our timetables are not often the same as God’s. Learning these kinds of lessons, says Paul in Romans, is always a family affair. And it’s especially in the family of God that we truly understand this. Each of us needs a loving family to surround us and help us make sense of this life. Sometimes this family is our bio-family or our foster or adopted family. Sometimes it’s our good friends. But it can always be our family of faith in Christ. This, then, is how we wait for God: we do it together. Kindergartners, moms, dads, great-aunts, brothers, sisters, you, me — all are welcome, and all are needed to instruct each other in the ways of God’s love. Lord, help us sing our prayer together: “Bigger and better is My love / That I have bestowed unto you / And now it’s for each one to share of / That all things might now become new. / We are the family of God / Yes, we are the family of God / And He’s brought us together / To be one in Him / That we might bring light to the world.” Amen. (“We Are the Family of God.” © 1976, John Byron)

Anonymous Local Church Member, the Heartland District

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Wednesday, December 7, 2022 “The Game with Stars” – Read Genesis 15:1-6 The Lord took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (vv.5-6, NIV) Pott Disease is a terrible form of tuberculosis that attacks the spine and, untreated, creates significant deformities. At the turn of the last century, one of the treatments attempted was a “Phelps Box.” Simply put, the sick child was placed (for up to a year!!!) into a padded box that immobilized their torso. The child could do nothing except lie on their back. These children spent their days in isolation and loneliness. Some decades ago, I came across a pastor’s account of a home visit to an elementary-aged girl being treated with a Phelps Box. The girl admitted to the pastor that many of her days were difficult. “But if my day is very hard,” said the little girl, “then I play the Game with Stars, and that makes everything better.” “What is the ‘Game with Stars’?” the pastor asked. “Well, at night,” she replied, “I ask Daddy to push my box over to my bedroom window so I can look out and see the stars. And then I start the Game. The brightest star I find? That’s God! The next brightest stars? Those are my mommy and daddy and brother.” The girl continued, talking about how she tried to find stars that reminded her of all the people in her life who loved her and were important to her. The pastor was speechless. “There’s only one problem,” the little girl confessed. “I always lose the Game.” “What do you mean, you ‘lose?’” the pastor asked, confused. “I always run out of stars,” the girl replied with a smile. Some evening when the skies are clear, go outside and look up. Think of everything you need, every struggle you are going through, every hope you’re still waiting for. Then, think of all the people that have ever loved you or are important to you. Play the Game with Stars. Keep playing until you lose. J It won’t take long for you, like Abraham, to see the blessings of God written to you in the heavens. Lord, how majestic is your name! You have set your glory in the heavens! Through the praises of children, you have defeated all enemies! When I look up to the heavens, and see the moon and the stars, I am amazed that you think of me and that you love me. Lord, how majestic is your name! Amen. (based on Psalm 8)

Rev. Dr. Thomas Hoffmann, Retired Elder Connections Coordinator, the Heartland District

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Thursday, December 8, 2022 “The God of Second Chances” – Read 2 Peter 3:1-10 “God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” (v. 9, MSG) We fight with an adult child who then doesn’t speak to us for months and months. We make a mistake that causes harm and injury to another, changing the course of their life. We say something intentionally spiteful, knowing it will hurt our spouse’s feelings. Or maybe our hard drive just crashed, and—well, what’s a “backup?” We can make terrible choices. We know our poor actions impact others. And we desperately wish we had just one more chance to make things right again. I have good news for you! Last Sunday, we lit the Advent Candle of Love. That simple action declared an astounding truth: God loves us deeply, no matter what we have done or what we have left undone. The Candle of Love reminds us that the Christ for whom we wait a second time is the same one who proclaims the “God of Second Chances” to you and me. The stories in the Old and New Testaments tell of the God of Second Chances (and sometimes of the God of Third, Fourth, and Fifth Chances!). God helps King David become a man after God’s own heart, even after his adulterous and murderous actions. God uses a big fish to give Noah a second chance so that others can find God’s redemption. Peter fiercely and publicly denies Jesus three times; the resurrected Jesus gives Peter three opportunities to declare his love for him. No wonder, then, that it is Peter who tells us the reason we are still waiting for Jesus to come again is so that others will have the time to find God’s love. And Jeremiah says it is “because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning!” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV) Because of God’s love, every new day gives us and those around us one more chance to have a do-over in life. One more chance to be transformed by the love of God. Lord, thank you that you give me so many chances to do the loving thing. Restore and revive me again, that I may rejoice in you. “Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us new life” (Ps. 85:7). Amen. Anonymous Local Church Member, the Heartland District

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Friday, December 9, 2022 “God’s Love Song to You” – Read Zephaniah 3:14-17 The Lord will take great delight in you; / in love the Lord will no longer rebuke you, / but will rejoice over you with singing.” (v. 17, NIV) Imagine the season of Lent. 40 days of identifying our sins and weaknesses, asking forgiveness, all while seeking the coming of the living Christ. The early Church thought that if Christ were to come again, that “Day of the Lord” would surely take place on an Easter morning. Now imagine an Easter morning with Zephaniah as your pastor. You are preparing to sing, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Suddenly, Zephaniah stops everything. “You’re expecting the Day of the Lord today?” he cries out. “Then hear this: ‘When I come again,’ says the Lord, ‘I will sweep every living thing from the face of the earth, including humanity. Your hearts still seek other gods.” It would be difficult to argue with the first two chapters of Zephaniah’s message, even on Easter morning. The world is not as it should be, even after 2,000 years of trying. WE are not as we should be, even after a lifetime of trying. When Christ comes again, on Christmas or Easter, why would he be happy with us? But suddenly, Pastor Zephaniah’s countenance changes. It’s as if both he and God have run out of breath, run out of anger for God’s children, no matter what we may have done. Zephaniah tells us that God’s true face, true heart, cannot be held back any longer. And suddenly, his sermon changes: Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! / . . . in love the Lord will no longer rebuke you, / but will rejoice over you with singing.” (3:17) Advent—like Lent—is a time of preparing for Christ’s coming. Honestly, I never feel ready for Christmas when it comes! I always want more days in Advent to get my heart right as I fight against our culture’s commercialization. Thankfully, Zephaniah reminds us that no matter the status of our soul, our God, who is all love, can never stop loving us. Christmas will always come too soon. It’s a reminder that Christ is God’s gift of love to us and not something we earn from hard work. God sings Christ’s love and joy over us with every Advent hymn and Christmas carol. O holy Child of Bethlehem, / Descend to us, we pray; / Cast out our sins and enter in, / Be born to us today. / We hear the Christmas angels / The great glad tidings tell: / Oh, come to us, abide with us, / Our Lord Emmanuel! / Amen. (The United Methodist Hymnal #230)

Anonymous Local Church Member, the Heartland District

Week Two: Creating Shalom means Sharing Love Saturday, December 10, 2022 “A Repentance of Love” – Read Luke 3:1-18 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord . . .” (v. 4, NIV) Advent is a time of preparing for the coming of Jesus, and we can’t find any more direct instructions than right here in today’s Gospel reading: level off the mountains, fill in the valleys, and smooth out the rough spots so that the way of God’s coming is free from obstacles. But what does this mean? For John, it’s all summed up in a single word: repentance. This may surprise you, but John’s understanding of repentance fits in perfectly with our Advent theme for this week of love. Really? “Repentance” and “love” go hand-in-hand? John’s call to repentance challenges us to live our lives the way God would want us to. John tells us this means, for example, sharing our possessions with those who need them. His idea of repentance for us is to stop the actions that cause harm to ourselves and others and start those actions that bless others and even ourselves. Repentance for John is like weeding for a farmer: they both want to see wonderful, healthy, life-giving fruit grow and multiply. Sounds pretty loving to me! Years ago, my spouse’s aunt suffered a series of mini-strokes, and an eldercare specialist told us to remove all the rugs on the floors at home. To you or me, they all looked smooth and flat. But for our aunt, any area that was even slightly raised made it difficult for her to walk. Likewise, John asks us: What obstacles are making it difficult or even preventing God from coming our way? Every one is important to remove. Sure, the “big things” are easy to see and get rid of, but too often, it's the smallest of obstacles that can prevent God from bringing into our lives all the love we need. During Advent, paying attention to both the big and small obstacles in our lives can assure us that we won’t miss recognizing Jesus when he comes our way. This kind of repentance will surely invite more love to flow into our lives. God, what obstacles have I placed between you and me? Is there anything in my life—big or small--that is preventing me from receiving the love of your son Jesus? Give me the courage to be not just a hearer of your word but a doer as well. Amen. Anonymous Local Church Member, the Heartland District

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Sunday, December 11, 2022 “Be Truly Glad. There is a Wonderful Joy Ahead!” – Read Isaiah 35:1-10 The desert and the parched land will be glad; / the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. / Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom . . . (vv. 1-2, NIV) Isaiah 35 invites us to reflect on this Advent season, not only as God’s coming in Christ, but also as our coming home. “Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (v. 10, NIV). God comes. God is here. We leap and shout and sing. And together we walk home. The OU Wesley International Ministries is still in mission, preaching the good news of grace and peace in Oklahoma and seeing God's light shine brighter in the darkness. During these times of challenge and uncertainty, we continue to thrive. We connect, invest, serve and transform through practicing radical hospitality to the OU international students’ community in Norman and beyond. God has multiplied our Chinese ministry into multiethnic ministries, and now we have a foretaste of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. We minister to over 320 different international students from 29 countries on 5 continents through weekly worship and Bible study, free dinners & ESL classes, and monthly grocery and hiking trips—all despite COVID. During the pandemic, three Chinese students prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and received baptism. Glory be to God! God is good! Gracious and Loving God, great is your faithfulness (Lam. 3). Your love never fails (1 Cor. 13). You rebuild and restore all that’s broken (Amos 9). You give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Is. 61). You work everything for our good (Rom. 8). You make all things new (2 Cor. 5)! Help us press into this new season to keep our focus on Christ and be shining examples of hope to the world. Help us love and serve others who don’t have what we have in Christ. With God’s grace and help, let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12). We are more than conquerors in Christ (Rom. 8)! In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Amen. Rev. Fuxia Wang, GBGM Missionary Director of International Ministries, University of Oklahoma Wesley Foundation

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Monday, December 12, 2022 “The Parenthesis of Joy” – Read Psalm 42 As the deer pants for streams of water, / so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. / When can I go and meet with God? (v. 1-2, NIV) This is a joyous season. Stores are lavishly decorated. Our homes are filled with heirlooms that bring the memories of our childhood and past happy Christmas. Our closets begin to share space with gifts we hope will bring a smile to our loved ones. We gather in the evening to watch Christmas movies and cuddle with those we love the most. I think that particularly during the times we are going through, we immerse ourselves deeply in the “joy” of the season to create a “parenthesis” in the middle of the chaos surrounding us. War, natural disasters, political and social divides, and inflation do not take a break. They continue to plague our attention. These menacing factors pile upon our fears, anxieties, disappointments, and broken hearts. Some of us will go through this season without a loved one, either because they passed or because our relationships have grown distant. Some of us will smile amid pain and sorrow. We do this because we are “trained” to smile during the “holiday season.” Yet, the babe who is about to be born invites us to “come to see him as we are.” The reading for today -- “my tears have been my food both day and night, as people constantly questioned me, “Where’s your God now?” (Psalm 42:3, CEB) -- is an invitation to us to bring to God whatever is heavy in our hearts. It is freeing—indeed, redeeming--when we do not have to smile through our hurt. The babe born in the stable comes to free us from our pain… not by ignoring it, but by confronting it and defeating it. The babe born next to farm animals shows us that strength is found in vulnerability. May our tears be transformed into laughter and our mourning into dancing! Lord, hope is all around me! And so, I have to ask myself: Why am I so down? Why am I so upset? O Lord, I give you thanks, because you awaken something deep inside me. You refresh me with living water. Every day I see your love, and every night I sing your praises. This I pray to you, O God of my life! Amen. (adapted from Psalm 42)

Rev. Carlos Ramirez, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries Congregational Vitality & Coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Ministries The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Tuesday, December 13, 2022 “God’s Abiding Care” – Read Jude 1:17-25 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (vv. 20-21, NIV) I visited Charlie in the hospital, a wise elder of our congregation. He spoke rarely, but when he did, the church listened. We had just gone through a “rough patch” that almost caused me to be moved. The crisis had passed, caring members embraced us, and while there had been several months of turmoil and discouragement, we found ourselves and the congregation moving forward once again. It had taken its toll on me, and I had struggled to remain positive during the event. As our visit came to a close, I had a prayer with Charlie and started to leave. He called me back and said, “David, do you know how we got through this?” I said, “No, how did we?” He replied, “Because you never ceased to love us, you never scolded us, you modeled care for our church.” I thanked him and asked him to pray for Paula and me. He nodded, squeezed my hand, and I left. We live in discouraging times. Turmoil abounds. Our beloved United Methodist Church struggles with how to practice a Jesus-like openness to all people. But as I read the passages of scripture in today’s lectionary, I realized that in each time period, there was much about which to be discouraged, yet each writer spoke words of encouragement. Ezekiel 47 tells of healing waters; Psalm 42 speaks of God’s constant presence and love. Jude, a brother of Jesus, has a short letter written around the year 60 when the Roman army was about to descend and destroy the Temple. Jude encourages the people and commends them to the God of creation when he says, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling (being discouraged?) and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore (vv. 24-25, NIV). O Lord, today let me take to heart the injunction of John Wesley, a man who understood tough times, who says to us: “Stay in love with God.” Amen. Rev. Dr. David Severe Retired Elder, the Heartland District

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Wednesday, December 14, 2022 “Every Tear is Precious” – Read Psalm 30 You turned my wailing into dancing; / you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. (v. 11, NIV) My grandmother and I were sitting in the dining room eating pizza while my dad was on the other side of the wall, slipping away from this life to the next as cancer devoured the remainder of his once healthy, vibrant body. “No parent should have to bury their child,” she said with tears streaming down her face. In less than a week, she was doing exactly that. Though he was 40 years old, in her eyes, he was still the little boy she had raised into a fine husband, father, and business owner. I did not fully understand her statement until I had a child myself, and now I understand it more than I want to. In Psalm 42, we read these words: “My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’” (v. 1). During my father’s illness, there were days when it felt like tears were the only food I had, and people, including myself, at times questioned where God was. And sometimes we were crying while we were eating! As we move toward Advent and as we think about how creating shalom brings joy, what do tears have to do with it? Tears can signal sadness and emotion, but they may also be inviting us to engage another person. Every day, we encounter people who are shedding tears. We have the opportunity to wipe those tears from their eyes -- by offering a shoulder on which another can cry, writing an encouraging note, or listening without thinking about our own response. Psalm 42 ends with both a question and note of hope: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my help and my God” (v. 11). Our Psalm for today says the same thing, just a bit differently, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (v. 5). Tears, yes, but hope and joy return. And even then, we may have tears! Lord, the Psalmist says that every time I toss in bed, you know it (Ps. 6). And when I cry, you keep every one of my tears (Ps. 56). Let me count every sorrow I see in others as precious as you do, O Lord. Help them to trust in your joy, as I do, a joy that is surely coming our way. Amen. Rev. Derrek Belase, Director of Connectional Ministries The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Thursday, December 15, 2022 “Bouncing with Joy” – Read Galatians 3:23-29 “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (v. 28, RSV) You need to know that I have a superpower. I love to read, and as the oldest child with three very noisy brothers, I developed the ability to block out EVERYTHING while immersed in a book. One memorable Christmas, my parents bought all of us kids the gift of a trampoline. I also received a few books! Not long after the holidays, my parents had some errands to run and left my teenage self in charge for a couple of hours. I immediately started reading. The more active members of my family began plotting their own fun. Now, nothing brings a rural “neighborhood” full of children together like a trampoline. On a trampoline, “there is no Jew or Greek, no male or female, no slave or free,” just a bunch of evil geniuses, and left to their own devices, they hatched a plan. As I read about Nancy Drew’s latest adventures, oblivious to the world around me, they drug the trampoline from the middle of the yard very close to the eaves of the house. For “safety,” they removed every mattress from every bed in the house and surrounded the trampoline with them. As my parents pulled into the driveway, they were greeted with the sight of every kid for miles around (except me) flinging themselves off the roof with great joy onto the trampoline and bouncing to a stop on the mattresses. I’m still grounded. My siblings and our neighbors broke no rules because who would think to make a law for something so specific? Yet, we were all in violation of the spirit of good behavior. The law, given with the greatest of love by God, who wants to protect God’s children, will always have loopholes, and we will find them. So, God, the giver of all good gifts, devised the best plan, predicated on the greatest gift. God’s own son was given so that we could see what true hope, true peace, true love, and true JOY look like. Rather than hurtling ourselves toward certain doom, we now have something better than a trampoline to bind us together as one: baptism into Christ’s family and acceptance into eternal life. Lord, I confess that too often, I search for joy in fleeting moments of happiness. Help me find true joy only in the everlasting gift of Christ that comes to us this Advent season. Amen. Rev. Desi Sharp Brumit Senior Pastor, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Shawnee, OK

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Friday, December 16, 2022 “A New Christmas Carol” – Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 “So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (NRSV) Charles Dickens wrote the amazing story “A Christmas Carol.” I have watched the movie version for far too many years to count. It’s one of my favorites. In Dickens's work, we read of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly, selfish man who lives only for himself and his work. It does not matter what movie version we see because Ebenezer always comes off as a miserable person: mean, greedy, abrasive, and very lonely. There are circumstances as to why he feels that way. Ebenezer finds himself in a very uncomfortable position: he is visited by his deceased partner and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. During this encounter, he wrestles with how the past and present appear to define his future. At this point, I would have inserted this phrase, “Ebenezer, our past helps to shape and form us, but it does not have to define us.” It’s something I say quite often to myself and to others. The truth is, we all have a past that we deal with. For some, it’s a difficult past; for others, the past might have been easier. But again, at some point, there will be a time of reflection and decision. Will I let my past define my future and who God has called me to be? Or, more simply: will I let my past define me? I can assure you that God desires “new life” for each of us. I’ve always been moved by the spiritual essence of God at work in Ebenezer’s life. We find a time of reflection where Ebenezer is given the gift of looking back and seeing who he was. There is, in religious terms, a time of repentance when Ebenezer doesn’t like what he has seen. But then we witness “transformation.” I never tire of this part of the story. To watch Ebenezer experience the joy of new life and a future filled with hope and love inevitability brings me to tears. Lord, may this season of Advent be for us a time of reflection, preparing us to receive once again the gift of Christ, who came so we might experience abundant life. Let this be our new Christmas carol: “So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” Amen. Rev. Linda Harker, Retired Elder Online Campus Pastor, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, OK

Week Three: Creating Shalom means Sounding Joy Saturday, December 17, 2022 “A Father’s Joy” – Read Luke 15:11-32 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (vv. 31-32, NIV) When I served as a missionary pastor in Russia in the 1990s, my 16-year-old daughter Joy and I once took a weekend trip to Moscow. We were heading to our hotel room by bus. We mistakenly thought we had arrived at our stop, and Joy exited first. But before I could step off, the driver closed the doors and took off down the road, leaving Joy stranded! He seemed deaf to my pleadings to stop. I took stock: I was still holding Joy’s passport and cash for safety. It was midnight in Moscow, Russia. My daughter was in an unknown part of town. She didn’t speak the language, she had no ID, and she had no way to reach out to anyone for help. I thought, OK, as soon as we stop again, I can follow the same bus route in the opposite direction, which will take me right back to her. However, THAT bus took off in an entirely new direction, and after several turns and twists, I, too, was lost. I had to do something! I exited and started running down random Moscow streets in what I hoped was the right compass direction. I was in full panic mode: what were the odds of finding a single person lost in a city of 12 million people? As I ran, I shouted her name, “Joy! Joy!” at the top of my lungs. Passers-by looked at me as if I were a madman. But after a while, I saw, down a long stretch of road, someone sitting at a bus stop. It was my daughter! Somehow, I had found my way to her. I ran to her as fast as I could, grabbed her in my arms, and through my tears, told her over and over how sorry I was that I had lost her. To this day, I do not think my daughter can comprehend the extent of the fear or the joy I experienced on that day. And until that day, I had never really understood Advent: you and I often feel so lost. As we wait for the coming of One who loves us more than we can comprehend, that same One is already running toward us, shouting like a madman, “Joy! Joy!” in anticipation of the dizzying celebration ahead. Heart of Love, open us to the startling, upside-down ways in which you work. Fill us with Easter's laughter. Unwrap your Christmas peace. Shout out our Advent names. And then dance us home, into the fulness of your joy. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Rev. Dr. Thomas Hoffmann, Retired Elder Connections Coordinator of the Heartland District

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Sunday, December 18, 2022 “It is Well with My Soul” – Read Matthew 1:18-24 “ . . . Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, . . . he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him . . . .” (vv. 18-19, NIV) This morning we light the fourth Advent candle, the Candle of Peace. At the same time, however, we recognize that the world is seeing increasing conflict and strife. We don’t have to look overseas for this: America is in the bottom half of countries measured by indicators of peacefulness, and Oklahoma is ranked in the bottom third of US states. As we come closer to Christmas, we see that even the arrival of Jesus is marked by a conflicted Holy Family, forced migration, and the slaughter of innocent children. Where is the peace that this candle promises? Horatio Spafford lived in the 1800s. He was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters, and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Bible. One day he suffered the tragic loss of his young son, and then soon after, the loss of most of his investments in the Great Chicago Fire. The family scheduled a trip to Europe to recover, and Horatio’s wife and daughters traveled ahead. Before Horatio could join them, he received a message that their ship had a collision, and all four of his daughters had drowned. Horatio boarded a boat to join his grieving wife in England. He struggled with the tragedies of his life as he sailed. He finally wrote (in part) the following poem: When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, / When sorrows like sea billows roll; / Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, / It is well, it is well with my soul. / It is well with my soul. / It is well, it is well with my soul. (The United Methodist Hymnal #377)

Lord, I confess that, too often, I let the circumstances of my life and the turmoil of this world overwhelm my thoughts and emotions. Help me to seek your peace, and bring me to the place where I, too, can say, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” Amen. Anonymous Local Church Member, the Heartland District

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Monday, December 19, 2022 “A Perfect Peace” – Read Matthew 5:38-48 “But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” (vv. 39, NAB) James (not his real name) swung open the door to the sanctuary and walked in. I had become well acquainted with James and his schizophrenia, and I could see by the distressed look on his face that he was struggling. Soon I could hear James shouting racial slurs and spouting obscenities. Unfortunately, this was not our first episode with James’ outburst of verbal assault and threats of violence. I invited James to take his coffee outside. As we walked towards the exit, I reminded him that a sanctuary is a place of peace for everyone. I told him that until he began taking his medication again--or was at least more peaceable--he couldn’t come inside again. Suddenly, James began to tear his shirt off and dance around like a 110-pound Muhammad Ali. As James prepared to hit me, I prepared myself with prayer. As I prayed, I could feel the rush of James’ hand as he would run and stop just short of punching me in the nose. I didn’t flinch. I continued to pray, and James continued to dance, curse, swing, and stop just short of making contact. I kept reminding James of how much I loved him and how much God loved him. I surprised myself that inside of me, there was no fear whatsoever. I now knew that God had me, and if James did strike me, everything would still be OK. Then James dropped his hands to his sides and screamed at me, “Is that all you’ve got for me, &*%# Man of God?” “Yes, James,” I replied. “All I have for you is love.” James cursed and stalked away. In the face of my own insecurity and fear, I had done something clearly outside myself. God had done something, quieting all my fear, and giving me a sense of peace in the midst of uncertainty. God continues to provide moments of holy peace, telling us that we do not have to fight anything or anyone, and that we don’t have to live in fear. God’s peace is always sufficient -- sufficient enough to even quiet the troubled soul of James when, just a few weeks later, he and I found ourselves sharing together Holy Communion and forgiveness. O Lord, we confess that too often we are filled with fear. Remind us, Lord, that when we turn to you in prayer, you bring to us a peace that passes understanding. Amen. Rev. Bo Ireland, Senior Pastor, Clark UMC, Oklahoma City, OK, and Executive Director, The Lazarus Community, Oklahoma City, OK

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Tuesday, December 20, 2022 “Speaking to One Who Loves Us” (Hannah, Part 1)” – Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the Lord my horn (my strength) is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. (vv. 1-2, NIV) I wish I could have heard Hannah pray this prayer out loud and in person. Sometimes we think of prayer as something quiet, formal, and lacking energy. What happens in your home or small group when someone asks, “Who would like to pray for us?” Maybe you have an enthusiastic volunteer, or maybe the room gets quiet, and people’s eyes lower to the floor. Hannah was not shy about lifting up her prayer to God. For many years Hannah carried a burden, a deep longing for a child. And after years of fervent prayer, she had a son. And now, Hannah pours out her joy and gratitude to the God she loves. God is not somewhere far off, unconcerned about her cares. God is present with her, listening, responding, and offering grace. When we speak to those whom we love and who love us, we can pour out our hearts. That comes because we have a real relationship built on trust. The relationship we have with God is real. The God of the Universe knows us and cares about us. God knows and cares when we rejoice in joyful jubilee and when we pour out our burdens and deepest longings. Whatever we may need to lift up to God, God will listen, respond, and offer grace. O Lord, with the Psalmist I pray: “From a sea of troubles I cry out to you, Lord. Won’t you please listen as I beg for mercy? If you kept a record of our sins, no one could last long. But you forgive us, and so we will worship you. With all my heart, I am waiting, Lord, for you! I trust your promises. I wait for you.” Amen. (Psalm 130:1-6, CEV) Rev. Wendi Neal Senior Associate Pastor, McFarlin United Methodist Church, Norman, OK

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Wednesday, December 21, 2022 “Letting Go and Letting God” (Hannah, Part 2) – Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10 “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life. . . .” (1 Samuel 1:10-11, NIV) In the first chapter of Samuel, we hear of Hannah’s great heartache. The struggle for Hannah had gone on for years, and her anguish was deep. Hannah’s only hope was the Lord. Eli encouraged her, and we see that after this, she is changed. Hannah finds peace despite not knowing the outcome of her prayers. Four years later, Hannah’s famous prayer in chapter two is one of praise to a loving, all-knowing God who brings deliverance to His people. Three years out from my son’s traumatic head injury, I, too, have grieved for years. I find life is a paradox. So much answered prayer as he graduates from high school but also so much loss. I fall on my knees often in thankfulness to God. But on the flip side, I have no inner peace. Grief is always there as a constant companion. In a weird plot twist on this journey, grief has become precious. I know the season of grief is over; the time has come to let go. But I cannot. I am too scared. My peace is robbed, and I think of my great sorrow every day, often multiple times a day. Unlike Hannah, I have not fully given my son to the Lord. In my story, I clung to grief too long. By not letting go, I was unconsciously choosing to re-live the worst days of my life over and over again. I think that is exactly what the devil does: he makes us replay our worst heartaches repeatedly, and in so doing, we lose our life again. Hannah bravely let go of her grief and, a few short years later, let go again and trusted God with young Samuel. My story and Hannah’s coincide another time in Chapter 2, verse 9, where she reminds us that it is not by strength that we prevail but by faithfulness. I did not have the strength to let go of my grief; it was only by the grace given to me that I could fully let go. “Not by might, not by strength,” but by the graces of God was I able to lay the pain down and find peace again. Prince of Peace, thank you for being here for all of us this Advent Season. Grant us the courage to let go and trust you with all that comes our way in this rather difficult journey called life. Amen. Dr. Yaz Johnson Member, Wesley United Methodist Church, Shawnee, OK

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Thursday, December 22, 2022 “We All Start from the Same Place” – Read Luke 1:46b-55 [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….” (vv. 46-48, NRSV) I was 13 when the first one of my friends became pregnant. She was my cousin’s best friend, and in the way of teenage girls in small towns who are the same age, we all ran around together. There was a hurried wedding, and I’m sure more than a few raised eyebrows and whispers. Eventually, my friend returned to school, and by all accounts, their little family did well. My family moved soon after, and we lost touch. Yet I sometimes think of my friend during this time of Advent. I wonder about another young woman, roughly the same age, in much the same circumstance, who could look at her life, see through the whispers and raised eyebrows toward the future, and call herself “blessed.” Mary must have been a girl who had been so steeped in the faith traditions of her people that she was able to locate her personal story in the greater story of God’s work in and through humanity. She knew that God desires the flourishing and wellbeing of all of God’s people, all of God’s earth. She knew God as the one who lifts up those whose voices and presence are traditionally ignored yet need to be heard, need to be included in the building of God’s kingdom here on earth. She knew God as the one who humbles those who need to be brought down, not necessarily for punishment, but so that they could be in a place to listen to the other and make room for all. She knew, as do we, that God’s peace, unlike the constant striving and divisiveness we are used to, is a peace that can only be achieved when all are welcomed in, all are reconciled, all are made whole, all are made equal. After all, we all start in the same place – born, from the lowliest of us to the king of kings, as tiny, squirming, wrinkly babies. We get to choose after that whether we use our time to advance God’s peaceful kingdom, whether we will work toward equality for all of God’s children. God, no matter our age or station, every day we have the freedom to choose, like Mary, your way of humbleness and peace. Enlarge our hearts to welcome all who come our way, and may Christ be born in us today. Amen Rev. Desi Sharp Brumit Senior Pastor, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Shawnee, OK

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Friday, December 23, 2022 “It’s All About the Baby” – Read Genesis 17:15-22 “[Abraham] laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’ (vv. 17-18, NIV) As I was growing up, each Christmas, all my family got together to celebrate with a meal and gifts. There were always many relatives with us, and kind of like Abraham’s family, each celebration would degenerate into arguments, screaming, drunkenness, and sometimes fist-fights. I dreamed of “Hallmark” celebrations for my future family. Now that my years are growing golden, I had hoped that our family would excitedly gather on holidays to celebrate the birth of Jesus with beautiful decorations, our best dishes, and delicious food and that the entire day would be spent in pleasant company. It has not happened that way. Generally, it takes a funeral for our entire family to gather on any occasion. They are busy with their own lives, and large family gatherings are not their idea of a peaceful Christmas. Christmas had become depressing for me personally, and it was increasingly difficult to be happy at church. But God, in His infinite mercy, spoke through the voice of a friend to say that if you are unhappy during the holidays, keep your mind and focus on Jesus. Remember that we are celebrating Jesus at Christmas, not our family. It helped! When I truly focus my attention on the Christ child, to the exclusion of my own family woes, I do feel joy and peace reigning in my heart. Gracious Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to us in the form of a baby, so that we may focus our thoughts on him rather than ourselves. May your peace and joy fill our hearts this Advent Season. Amen. Rev. Wendelyn Perceful Senior Pastor, Lindsay United Methodist Church, Lindsay, OK

Week Four: Creating Shalom means Making Peace Saturday, December 24, 2022 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” – Read Luke 2:1-20 “Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, ‘Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.’ When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.’” (vv. 13-15, CEB) Christmas Eve is upon us! We have spent the Season of Advent reflecting on its great themes of hope, love, joy, and peace. Now we “Sing to the Lord a new song!” (Psalm 96:1). We ponder the songs of the angels, “peace on earth, goodwill toward all” (Luke 2:14). We celebrate the Prince of Peace and the endless peace that flows from the reign of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7). We greet one another with the words the Apostle Paul opened so many of his letters with: “Grace and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ our savior” (Titus 2:4). Christmas Eve is the time to sing a new song of peace! My singing voice is not what it once was. It seems that age and allergies have reduced my voice to a warble. But the songs of the season are still in my heart. The hymn, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley, speaks to my soul. The third verse explores the peace of Christ that God has given the world. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!” (The United Methodist Hymnal 240)

This Christmas Eve, may you be filled with the peace of Jesus Christ. May Jesus bring light, life, and healing to you, your family, your church, and our world. May the stories, the carols, and the music of Christmas lighten your heart and lift your soul. Bishop James Nunn Resident Bishop of the Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indian Mission Conferences Interim Bishop of the Northwest Texas Conference

We give great thanks to all the contributors to “Creating Shalom Throughout the Heartland:” The 2022 Advent Daily Devotional for leading us on our journey to Christmas. Our named contributors are listed here alphabetically: Derrek Belase (Dec. 14) Linda Brinkworth (Dec. 4) Desi Sharp Brumit (Dec. 15, 22) Lori Foster (Nov. 28) Linda Harker (Dec. 16) Rebekah Hasty (Nov. 29) Thomas Hoffmann (Dec. 5, 7, 17) Bo Ireland (Dec. 19) Yaz Johnson (Dec. 3, 21) Victor McCullough (Nov. 27) Wendi Neal (Dec. 20) James Nunn (Dec. 24) Shyloe O’Neal (Dec. 1) Edward Parker (Nov. 30) Wendelyn Perceful (Dec. 23) Carlos Ramirez (Dec. 12) David Severe (Dec 13) Fuxia Wang (Dec 11) Adam Young (Dec 2)