Under siege, Jerusalem wailed in despair.
The walls fell. The Temple crumbled.
In the darkest of hours,
we long for hope.
Exiled to Babylon, the people adapted and faith was tenuous.
In the darkest of hours,
we long for hope.
In time, the people returned to Jerusalem and began to rebuild.
In the early dawn,
hope seemed possible.
But it was hard. Memories and expectations exceeded reality.
In the mid-morning fog,
grief and hope intermingled.
Generations later, faith was rebuilt but corruption and Roman occupation seemed too much to bear.
In the afternoon sun,
hope seemed a dream too grandiose.
Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. [Isaiah 7:14 CEB]
Beneath the evening stars,
hope is nigh.
Come! Worship!
The world is changing.
Come! Worship!
Hope is on the way.
Come! Rejoice!
The world is changing.
Tim is a runner, a hiker, a devoted husband, a father of two adult children, and their spouses, and a grandfather of four perfect children. A former early childhood educator, Tim is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has served as pastor of both Disciples and United Church of Christ congregations. As we enter what we hope is the final phase of the pandemic, Tim is beginning a journey of rediscovering himself and discerning next steps. He writes from his home in Albany, Oregon and wherever the Spirit lures him.
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