Devotions - Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

Devotionals from Goshen College

Dec. 25: Christmas for the Generations By Goshen College President Jim Brenneman SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:22-40 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: Christmas day! Presents unwrapped, Christmas dinner eaten. Grandpa snores silently on the easy-boy. Grandma fusses over the newest grandbaby. Aunts put puzzles together, while uncles watch reruns on TV. Nieces and nephews, brothers and...
Dec 24

Dec. 24: Treasure and ponder By Ross Peterson-Veatch, director of curriculum, teaching and faculty development SCRIPTURE: Luke 2: 1-14, 15-20 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: This advent season, my regular activities of work and life have had a little more of a frenetic feeling underneath them than usual. As my kids get older,...
Dec 23

Dec. 23: God?s ever-present glory and love By Mara Weaver, a junior history major from Bloomington, Ill. SCRIPTURE: Galations 4:4-7 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: As I sat down to reflect on today?s Scripture passage, I found myself steeped in the stress of the ending semester, a time when no one seems to be able...
Dec 22

Dec. 22: Salvation as a growing seed By Annika Miller, a junior elementary education major from Broadway, Va. SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Isaiah reminds us to loudly praise God in all we do because it?s only through God?s glory...
Dec 21

Dec. 21: Praise the Creator By Carina Zehr, a sophomore environmental science and sociology major from Foosland, Ill. SCRIPTURE: SCRIPTURE: Psalm 148 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: As I read this passage, considering my busy semester, I asked myself, “At what times have I truly praised God lately?” I seem to be more...
Dec 20

Dec. 20: What?s in a name? By Ruth Hochstetler, Good Library day circulation supervisor SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: I have sisters-in-law who are elementary school teachers. With the start of each new school year, our family is entertained by the unusual or ridiculous names of children in their classrooms. A...
Dec 19

Dec. 19: His glory is above earth and heaven By Justin Yoder, a junior music and interdisciplinary double major from Perkasie, Pa. THIS WEEK?S THEME: His glory is above earth and heaven DEVOTIONAL ?I wonder if God comes to the edge of heaven each Advent and flings the Star into the December sky, laughing with joy as it lights...
Dec 18

Dec. 16: Learning from Mary?s strength and patience Jessica Gotwals, a junior nursing major from Telford, Pa. SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: I can?t imagine what Mary would have felt when she received Gabriel?s message that she would be the mother of Jesus. Mary found herself in circumstances she could not explain. The...
Dec 15

Dec. 15: God of mysteries By Isaac Yoder-Schrock, a senior physics major from Donnellson, Iowa SCRIPTURE: Romans 16: 25-27 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: Those of us who live the North American lifestyle tend to live planned, non-mysterious and time-centric lives. Everything that matters can be easily explained and whatever cannot may be...
Dec 14

Dec. 14: Remembering God?s promises By Sophia Metzger, assistant director of multicultural affairs SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (NRSV) Scroll down for complete Scripture. DEVOTIONAL: This is an exciting time. Waiting in joyful hope, preparing for the coming of Jesus and all the rituals, meals and gatherings that come with it. I find it easy...
Dec 14