Light When It Is Dark

And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was upon the deep. Genesis 1:2a

“Tohu Wa Bohu”

These are the Hebrew words found in Genesis 1 verse 2 used to describe the state of the earth before its creation. Various translations use various words to describe the emptiness: Void, waste, nothing, desolation, chaos. Each of these indicate the hopelessness of this moment.

And darkness was upon the deep.

Martin Luther, in his commentary on Genesis says of this portion of the verse:

The “water,” the “deep,” are here put for the same thing; namely, for that dark unformed substance which afterwards was divided by the Word. For it was the office of the second Person of the Trinity, namely Christ, the Son of God, to divide and adorn that chaotic mass produced from nothing.

With the benefit of hindsight, we look back upon these earliest verses of Scripture, as does Luther, and we see Christ. For it is Christ, the Word of God, which brings meaning to that which is meaningless and purpose to that which is empty. It is Christ who adorns and divides the void, bringing about significance, and worth, life, and hope to that which was without.

Luther’s words echo the Gospel of John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-4

From its very first verses the Bible points to Jesus as the source of life and meaning for the world. And during this season of Epiphany, when it is still darker than it is light, when the world is cold and harsh, when problems may seem many, let us not forget, he remains the light, with power to break the darkness of our lives, our world, even death.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.

~Pastor Mike Middaugh

Calvary member Erik Delfino was Called to Glory last Friday. Even as we grieve the loss of our friend and member of our Calvary church family, we wish to celebrate Erik’s life and faith, and support his family during this time.

A memorial service for Erik will take place on Friday, January 17th, at 10:00am at Calvary Lutheran Church. A repast with light fare will follow the service in the Calvary Fellowship Hall.

Calvary members who are able to assist with the memorial service needs are invited to help in two ways. 1. Extra chairs may be needed in the Sanctuary for this service, and the Parent’s Room set for overflow space if needed. Some parking help, or directing of cars may also be necessary. If you are able, please arrive between 9:15 and 9:30 to help with these needs. 2. Kitchen help, and clean-up help will be needed during and after the repast. If you are able to help please contact Susan Fletcher and/or speak to her after the service to extend your willingness to help.

Cards for Erik’s family may be sent to the Calvary church office. Details regarding donations in Erik’s name will be made known at the memorial service.

A Light Shines in the Darkness

It is a perfect paradox that Advent comes for us, at the darkest and coldest time of the year. This Sunday, the third week of Advent, we will light, impossibly, it seems, the candle of joy. A small flame in a dark world. Just as the days are at their bleakest and shortest, scripture says:

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Isaiah 35:1

This is the two-fold challenge of faith. We are called to see the world as it really is, to mourn with those who mourn, to grieve with those who grieve. Scripture does not sugarcoat the truth, often pointing honestly to the hard realities of life, and the brokenness that is pervasive, even inside ourselves.

And yet there is hope. Joy is promised and can be found. Sometimes when we have no words to offer, and when our hard questions are returned with no easy answers, we nonetheless break into songs of praise. Somehow this season holds beauty and brokenness together. In their midst, promises are ours for the taking.

St. James reminds us:

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. James 5:7

The poet, singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, spoke of these things in the final album released before his death in 2016.

If you are the dealer, I’m out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name

Praise and lament, glory and sadness. These are the elements of the perfect paradox that is the Advent season.

John the Baptist too, our old friend, sat in a prison cell, wondering if all was lost, sent his loyal disciples to find out if Jesus truly was the One promised long ago. They returned with these words:

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Mathew 12:5

During this third week of Advent we again find that a light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not (will not) overcome it.

~Pastor Mike Middaugh

During the season of Advent we invite you join us in the Calvary Chapel for Midweek Worship every Wednesday at 7:30pm. These quiet, intimate services provide an interlude during the week for gathering with others to worship and wait on the promised coming of the Savior. This year’s services will be held on Dec. 4, 11, & 18 at 7:30pm. Enter the Chapel via the double doors adjacent to the Chapel and Church Office.

This Sunday, Dec. 8, is the second Sunday of Advent. Join us this Advent season as we worship and wait on the Lord’s Promises.

On the Wednesday evenings of Advent we worship at 7:30pm in the Chapel. Join us as we gather together with Christ Deaf Lutheran Church to hear again the story of “The Gift” God gives this season.

Breakfast with Santa will take place on Saturday, December 7th from 8:30-11:00am. Calvary members are encouraged to invite friends and neighbors to this morning of food and fun. Volunteers are needed to support this event. Please talk to Becky Johnson for volunteer information and sign up on the poster in the Narthex.

Save the date for the annual Women of Calvary Christmas Dinner on Tuesday December 10th! All women members and visitors of Calvary are welcome to attend, and guests are encouraged. Appetizers and fellowship begin at 6:30pm, followed by dinner at 7:00 and an Advent themed program to follow. This year we welcome as special guest the founder of A Wider Circle, Mark Bergel, who will talk briefly about the North Pole Project that we will again support with generous help from Thrivent. Please bring a dish to share and a new unwrapped toy for the North Pole Project toy drive.

The Wednesday morning Men’s Fellowship is meeting at 7:00am in the Fellowship Hall. All men welcome! Enter through the downstairs rear doors.

An online calendar has been established for Calvary events in order to provide a more user friendly experience when seeking information on our activities. You can find this calendar through the Calvary website, or by visiting: http://calvarysilverspring.view-events.com

This Sunday
The readings for this Sunday are: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12