December 25

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen this glory, the glory as of a parent's only child, full of grace and truth. – from John 1:1-14

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee…

In the fifth year of the reign of Donald Trump, when Pete Hegseth was Secretary of War, and Huckabee was ambassador to Israel…

In precarious flesh and tiny bones
vulnerability comes to live
among the rubble
King of kings, Lord of lords
a child’s wailing and deep abiding love
his only weapon
in the fight for freedom

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…

In those days, an executive order went out from the President expanding the powers of federal immigration law enforcement and authorizing state and local law enforcement to join in a mass deportation campaign…

In reaching hands and hungry cries
interdependence comes to dwell
among the refugees
Almighty God, Prince of Peace,
with a mother’s lullaby and a father’s dream
his only shield
in the struggle toward liberation.

In those days…

In these days…

In the long night that yearns for dawn
precious dangerous Love is born
again and again
to topple empires with tenderness
to conquer tyrants with grace
to overthrow oppressors with hope
to triumph through just mercy

and we will see this glory
abolishing what enslaves us
bringing freedom
this day, every day
full of grace and truth

*with inspiration from a 2025 Advent sermon by Rev. Katrina Forman, Lead Minister, Union Congregational Church UCC, Montclair NJ

Prayer

Inhale: Love is made flesh.
Exhale: This is our new old story of freedom.

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“Freedom is dangerous but it's precious, too. You can't just throw it away or let it slip away. You can't sell it for bread and pottage.” – from Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

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Practicing New Worlds: Bringing Love to Birth