First Lutheran Church — 1100 E Superior St If heading east on Superior toward 12th Ave E, take the first right after the church building into the parking lot. The nativity scene will be located just underneath the awning of the church’s entryway. You won’t be able to miss it!
Scripture Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Testimony of the Holy Manger Johnathan Rowe I know what I am: an earthen vessel guiding cows, goats and sheep’s chaotic feeding, their chorus of maws bleating, baying, snapping open and shut a celebration of the pastoral. Seen and unseen like a beggar one passes by, I exist as an unwashed bowl, coated with herbs, grains, and seeds chewed, swallowed and spit out. But one winter night, I held a newborn denied a bed in Bethlehem, glowing beneath an eastern star’s light. He transformed me into an altar for shepherds and magi’s adoration, a throne elevated from lowliness to honor, a cradle for a God made flesh.
Questions to Ponder: Grief and loss mark our lives this advent season. We lament racial injustice, the daily deaths due to the rampage of the Corona virus, food insecurity, loss of jobs, and the increasing divides between people in our nation. We need God’s breath of life to restore us in the midst of our lamentations. As we yearn for the coming of Christ in our suffering world, we invite you to consider where you most need God’s breath of life today. What are you grieving that can be held by Christ? Take a moment to reflect on the places in your life where you most need God. Write it on a slip of blue paper provided in the box near the light display.
Breathe deeply and pray each petition either aloud or in the depths of your heart. Breathe, and allow God to enter into the tender places of your heart and into your grief. Release that which encumbers you this night, and receive the life God has for you.
Inhale: Breath of God, Exhale: Hold me together.
Inhale: Breath of God Exhale: pour over me your holiness. Inhale: Breath of God, Exhale: Help me be Strong.
Inhale: Breath of Heaven Exhale: Be Forever near me. Amen.
Connect with First Lutheran: All are welcome for virtual worship with First Lutheran! flcduluth.orgfacebook.com/flcduluth Blue Christmas, Wed. Dec. 16th, 5pm Christmas Eve Virtual Worship Family Service 3:00pm Radio Worship 5:00pm & 10:00pmKDAL 610AM / 103.9 FM Christmas Day Lessons and Carols 10:00am KDAL 610AM/103.9FM
Or, make a side trip to see lights at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (1325 N 45th Ave E) and Family of God Lutheran Church (4097 Martin Rd) before continuing at Kenwood