Christmas 1 (December 28, 2008)
Common Lectionary Readings:
Is. 61:10-62:3; Ps. 148; Gal. 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40

We spent this week with our son Jeremy who is visiting from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. Most of our time was in Amman -- talking, walking, seeing the sites, watching movies and sharing good food! On Friday, we visited Roman ruins in Jerash and ate mansef – the Jordanian national dish made with rice, meat and yogurt -- in the home of a former MCC Jordan local staff worker.

Eating mansef at Taiseer's home in northern Jordan

In the region this week, a shaky truce between Hamas and Israel totally fell apart – with both sides blaming the other for violating the Egyptian-brokered agreement. Hamas launched rockets against Israel, killing one Israeli, in response to Israel’s stringent economic blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Plumes of smoke over Gaza after Israeli air strikes on Saturday (AFP photo)

Israel responded with its largest air offensive against Gaza in 40 years, killing at least 225 Gazans. Both sides threaten more violence in the coming days. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, at least 22 Iraqis were killed in a car bombing on Saturday.

The Common Lectionary readings this week offer praise and rejoicing for God’s acts of creation, redemption and salvation. How desperately God’s intervention is needed today!

In the reading from Isaiah, God’s servant rejoices that God has clothed him with garments of salvation and that God “will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations” (Is. 61:11).

Roman ruins in Jerash, Jordan

The psalmist records that all creation will praise God – the sun, moon and stars (Ps. 148:3); the heavens (v. 4); sea monsters (v.7); fire, hail, snow, frost and stormy winds (v.8); mountains, hills, fruit trees and cedars (v.9); wild animals, cattle, creeping things and flying birds (v.10); even kings and princes and all people, young and old (vv. 11-12) – because God’s name alone is exalted.

Paul writes that, in the fullness of time, God sent his son to redeem those who were born under the law. No longer will they be slaves. They will now be adopted as God’s children (Gal. 4:5, 7).

In the Gospel reading, at the appropriate time, Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to dedicate him to God. Upon seeing the Christ child, the elderly Simeon praises God because his eyes have now seen God’s salvation and light for both Gentiles and Jews (Luke 2:30). The 84-year-old prophetess Anna, praises God for the child who will redeem Jerusalem (v.38).

With all the violence that surrounds us, it is sometimes difficult to imagine a day when righteousness and praise will “spring up before all nations” (Isaiah 61); when kings and princes will praise God (Psalm 148); when people of many tribes and nations will recognize that they are God’s adopted children – and thus sisters and brothers (Galatians 4); and when both Gentiles and Jews recognize God’s light and salvation.

And yet, the Lectionary readings this week remind us that – even when we don’t see it and even when we wish God would act more quickly -- in the fullness of time, God acts to redeem, restore and save. This indeed is reason to praise God. This is reason for us to walk in God’s light and treat one another as brothers and sisters.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 21, 2008)
Common Lectionary Readings:
II Sam. 7:1-11, 16; Ps. 89:1-4, 19-26; Rom. 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

In this Christmas season, we pause to reflect on the many gifts we have received this year. God’s mercy is new every morning and God’s grace sustains us one day at a time.

Daryl and Cindy in Alexandria, Egypt

We are grateful for, and continue to be encouraged by, our children. Jessica is a social worker for the City of Denver and keeps us posted on political and economic news. Holden is a web programmer at Eastern Mennonite University and posts his latest photos on his blog. Jeremy is a 2nd year environmental engineering major student at Bucknell University and a resident assistant in his dorm. We always look forward to opportunities to see our children or hear their voices on Skype. Jeremy will spend Christmas with us in Amman.

We are grateful for the legacy of Cindy’s father, Vernon Lehman, who died November19 after several years of declining health. We will always remember him as one with a heart for service and adventure. He was an environmentalist in his own right, planting dozens of trees that now shade the Lehman homestead in Ohio.

We are grateful for our MCC colleagues and partners in this region. We continue to be amazed by partners in Iraq who courageously work for peace; by young adults in Palestine who maintain hope amidst military occupation; and by women in Gaza who operate small NGOs for the benefit of the community. The human spirit is resilient.

We are grateful for friends in many places around the world who encourage and pray for us. We miss our home congregation in Washington, D.C. but are grateful for the opportunity to worship at the Church of the Redeemer, an Anglican congregation in Amman. This week we enjoyed a Christmas program in English and Arabic languages.

We have been blessed this year to travel to many fascinating places – Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Iran, Israel-Palestine, Lebanon, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey and the United States. The conversations, sights, sounds and tastes have been different and delightful in each setting.

The Common Lectionary readings for this fourth Sunday in Advent are about God’s gifts to us.

In the Old Testament reading, David wants to build a house for God (I Sam. 7:1-7). Instead, God reminds David that he has been and will continue to be the recipient of God’s gifts. God has brought David from a place of obscurity to one of prominence (v. 8). God has been present with David and cut off his enemies (v.9a). God promises to make David’s name great (v. 9b) to make a house for David and to establish his throne forever (vv. 11,16).

Likewise, the psalmist speaks of God’s gifts to David. God will establish David’s descendents forever and build his throne for all generations (Ps. 89:4). God has exalted (v.19) and anointed (v.20) David and will always remain with and strengthen him (v.21). God will deal with David’s enemies (vv. 22-23). God’s faithfulness and steadfast love will always be with David (v.24).

In the Epistle reading, Paul writes of the many ways that God strengthens us in order to bring about obedient faith (Rom. 16:25-26).

In the Gospel reading, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that God has chosen her to bear a son who “will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk. 1:32a). God will give David’s throne to this child and there will be no end to his kingdom (v.32b). Mary can barely understand this mystery, but responds, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (v.38).

In this season of Christmas, may we, like Mary, humbly receive and ponder the mystery of God’s gifts to us.

Third Sunday of Advent (December 14, 2008)
Common Lectionary Readings:
Is. 64:1-4, 8-11; Ps. 126; I Thess. 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

This week we visited a number of MCC Jordan partners who are engaged with peacebuilding projects, hosted a delegation from Washington, D.C., and enjoyed a Christmas party with the MCC Jordan staff.

Each year, MCC sends several Jordanians to the Summer Peacebuilding Institute at Eastern Mennonite University. On Sunday, we met with several alumni of that program to talk about how they are using that training in their current jobs. On Monday, staff from the Middle East Council of Churches described the outcomes of a young-adult conference between Western and Eastern youth. On Tuesday, we talked with church leaders in Anjera and Wahadneh about plans to increase positive interactions between Muslims and Christians.

Members of Churches for Middle East Peace pose with Jordan's Prince Hassan.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we set up appointments for members of Churches for Middle East Peace – a coalition of 22 church groups who do advocacy in Washington, D.C. – to talk with Jordanian leaders about Jordan’s role in the Middle East peace process. Consistently, the Jordanian hosts emphasized a more regional approach for peacebuilding, the importance of engaging groups like Hamas in the process, and the necessity of developing civil society actors.

MCC staff enjoy Christmas dinner together

On Friday evening, we hosted the MCC Jordan staff for our annual Christmas dinner. It was a delightful time of sharing food, stories and songs. We are grateful for our colleagues.

The Common Lectionary readings this week are about transformation.

The prophet Isaiah describes remarkable changes that are on the way. Good news will come to the oppressed (Is. 61:1c); the wounds of the brokenhearted will be bound up (v.1d); liberty will be come to the captives and release to the prisoners (v.1e); comfort will come to all who mourn (v. 2b); there will be garlands instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning and praise instead of faint spirits (v.3); ancient ruins will be rebuilt and ruined cities repaired (v.4); God’s people will receive recompense and will be well-known among the nations as a people whom God has blessed (vv.8-9). Finally, God “will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations”(v.11c).

The psalmist writes of fortunes that are restored (Ps. 126:1,4); mouths that are filled with laughter and joy (v.2); and tears and weeping that are transformed into shouts of joy (vv. 5-6).

In the Epistle reading, Paul gives pithy and practical advice to the church at Thessalonica: Rejoice always (I Thess. 5:16), pray without ceasing (v.17), give thanks in all circumstances (v.18), do not quench the Spirit (v.19), do not despise the words of the prophets (v.20), test everything (v. 21a), hold fast to what is good (v.21b), and abstain from every form of evil (v. 22). This kind of transformation is possible because the God who calls us is faithful to set us apart and to keep our spirits, souls and bodies sound and blameless (vv. 23-24).

In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist gave testimony to God’s transforming light that was about to come (John 1:6-8). John was clear that he, himself, was not this light. But he was the one whom God had called to prepare the way for the light of Christ that was about to shine forth in the world.

In this season of Advent, may our world experience the kind of transformation spoken of in these ancient and beautiful Scriptures.

Second Sunday of Advent (December 7, 2008)
Common Lectionary Readings:
Is. 40:1-11; Ps. 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Pet. 3:8-15a; Mk. 1:1-8

Cindy returned from Ohio on Tuesday evening. Later in the week we traveled to Palestine with Rick Janzen, MCC Europe and Middle East Director, to monitor several CIDA-funded projects.

Women's training session (East Jerusalem YMCA photo)

MCC’s Palestine partners are doing impressive work under difficult circumstances. East Jerusalem YMCA operates an exciting women’s training program. We witnessed an engaging soap-making workshop. The Palestinian Center for Peace and Democracy trains young adults to be engaged nonviolently in the political process. Wi’am offers mediation services and conflict resolution training for many types of conflict.

The Common Lectionary readings this week are about preparing the way.

The prophet Isaiah cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Is. 40:3). As a result, God will bring justice for the oppressed and God’s glory will be revealed for all people to see (vv.4-5).

The psalmist declares that justice prepares a path for God’s steps (Ps. 85:13).

In the Epistle reading, Peter speaks of preparing the way for Christ’s return. As we wait, we are to lead lives of holiness and godliness (II Pet. 3:11) and to strive to be at peace (v.14).

In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist repeats Isaiah’s cry: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Mk. 1:3). This preparation involves proclamation (vv. 3-4), repentance and confession (vv. 4-5), and humility (vv. 7-8).

This week, we witnessed MCC partners in Palestine preparing the way for a more just and peaceful future. In this Advent season, how are we preparing the way for all that God desires to do in our broken world?