Daily Devotions

December 2

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:1-5 (RSV)

December is a time of beginnings and endings whose name came from the Latin decem, meaning ten. It was originally the 10th month of the year in the Roman calendar which began in March. The Emperor Pompilius in 700 moved the beginning of the year from March when he added January and February. December then became the 12th and final month. December is a busy power packed month marking the end of one year and beginnings of another. It includes Advent Season, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. It is a month of transition including the darkest day of the year on the Winter solstice and the beginning of Winter. Yet the gospel of John says that darkness can never overcome God's light. Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and his life brings light to our life and world.

The Anglo-Saxons called December ‘Giuli’ or Yules which is the origin of "Yule Tide" celebrations in Advent and the Christmas season. "Advent" is from the Latin adventus meaning “coming” or “visitation". It begins four Sundays before Christmas, ends Christmas Eve, and is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians. During Advent, we are called to prepare for and seek the coming of Christ anew in our hearts and minds. We not only celebrate the historical coming of Jesus but acknowledge our own need for a Messiah and longing for rebirth, forgiveness, salvation, and new beginnings. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward to the second coming of Christ as he is reborn in our hearts and lives. As you embrace December this year, open your heart to the possibilities of new beginnings and unexpected miracles in your own life and family. You won't be disappointed! The light of Christ still shines brighter than any darkness, difficulty, or holiday stress.

Prayer:

God,

Grant your light in dark December days.

Amen.

Meditation For The Day:

The Word of Christ brings eternal light!

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Fall Renewal Paperback – August 23, 2017

by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author) Available from Amazon

Used with permission of the family of the late Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson.

Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, D.Min., (1942-2018)

Mary was Ordained in 1975.
She served both as a Parish Pastor and in multiple Specialized Ministry Settings.

She worked on the Clinical Staff of New England Memorial Hospital and Middleton Pastoral
Counseling Center in Massachusetts and was a Director of Green Pastures Counseling Centers in N.H.

She was a state Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor,
Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (N.C.C.), and Nationally Certified Pastoral Counselor (AAPC)
and held certification as a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (A.C.P.E.).

She received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Clinical Studies
from Andover Newton in Newton, MA.

Dr. Johnson also founded Good News Specialized Ministries, Inc.
This unique ministry provided education and Clinical Christian Counseling to thousands of people over the decades and trained numerous Clinical Counselors and Counseling Ministers while offering weekly non-denominational worship services to the community for more than 20 years.

I had the honor and privilege of working with Pastor Arnie Johnson
when I served as the pastor for the Richmond Community United Methodist Church

in Richmond, NH from 2019 - 2022.
I personally have been deeply touched by Mary's writings.

Her family has graciously allowed me to share them with you.

- Pastor Sharon Sargent

"I always considered my ministry at Richmond as a shared ministry. Mary had the expertise that helped me function as well as I did. I received critiques on the way home after the services. I finally realized that I may have “arrived” when one day she was pleased with my performance with no critique! That took several years! So, I would love it if you would use the picture of the two of us and mention Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson as my spouse and partner in ministry, and she continued to be until the day she died, four days before the end of my appointment at Richmond." - Pastor Arnie Johnson

Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson is the author of eight other published books including:

"Activating The Power Of Pastoral Care: A Team Approach";

"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Renewal"(Vol.1-4);

"Flying Free: Transforming Grief and Loss into Renewal";

Following The Angel Trail: In The Steps Of Jesus";

"Love In Action: The Healing Heritage Of The Counseling Ministry Of The Church";

"Visions Of Hope: Voices Of Americana";

"Healing Streams: Journeys Of Healing".

She has also been published in the AAPC professional Journal "Journeys" and in the Keene Sentinel.