Christmas: day 7

When I see one human being offer grace to another, I know that the Kin-dom of God is near.

Jenny Howard, Louisville Seminary, Louisville, KY

Christmas: day 6

When living in moments of ordinary bliss, I know the kingdom of God is near.

Jackie Van Vliet
Rutgers Presbyterian Church

Christmas: day 5

When people's voices are raised in song and not in fear I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Anonymous

Christmas: day 4

When "people stop thinking in terms of religious affiliation," I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Takako Terino
Presbyterian Welcome Board Member

Christmas: day 3

When justice rolls down like waters, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Ellen Pearre Cason

Christmas: day 2

When an unwed mother carrying the child of the son of the most conservative member of the congregation is welcomed and assimilated into the church family, I know that the kingdom of God is near.


John Edward Harris, North Church, Queens, Flushing NY

Christmas

When I see two couples of same sex parents standing at the front of the church on a baptismal day with two other couples who are straight and all are beaming as their infant children are baptized, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. John Walton
First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York

Advent: day 25

When I see books like Who Will Direct the Choir? Homophobia and the Black Church getting published, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. Anna Taylor Sweringen

Advent: day 24

When I see or experience true welcome/hospitality in a faith community - for ALL the diverse children of God - I know that the kingdom of God is near

Robin Blakeman

Advent: day 23

When I look into the faces of the congregation and see Jen and Sara, who are married to each other, and Kham, who was born in Laos, and Vickie, who is intersex, and Sammi, who is transgender and married to Vickie, and Eliot, who is developmentally disabled, and Teresa, who has epilepsy, and Rich, who has done his prison time and is taking care of his elderly mother, and Alanna, who is looking after Lisa's two little girls, and Lisa, who is recovering from cocaine addiction, and John, who is single again, and Gabriel, who is autistic, and Melinda, who is Haitian- and Puerto Rican-American, and Tim, who is Japanese-American and his wife Jung Sun, who is Korean-American, and I see them all loving one another, then I know that the kingdom of God is near.


Rev. Jean Southard

Advent: day 22

When I "see" the possibilities for the future, I know that the kin-dom of God is near.

Debbie Blane

Advent: day 21

When I see the family God has blessed me with, I know the Kin-dom is near.

Alex Hendrickson

Advent: day 20

When we speak the truth in love, I know the kingdom of God is near.

Michael Poulos

Advent: day 19

When my teen son creates more physical distance from me in the sanctuary but I catch a glimpse of him our of the corner of my eye getting spiritually closer to God singing out loud, raising his hands, lips moving in prayer, or dancing in the aisle, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

RevSisRaedorah, Pasadena, CA

Advent: day 18

When my chosen family is gathered, I know the kingdom of God is near.

Alex McNeil, www.presbyqueerian.wordpress.com

Advent: day 17

When I am in the presence of my LGBTQ under-care sisters and brothers, I know that the Realm of God is near."

Beth Van Sickle, Inquirer, PC (USA)

Advent: day 16

When I am laughing with my friends, I know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Kate Davidson

Advent: day 15

When I can survive breast cancer and a long painful treatment, I know that the kingdom of God is near in those who got me through.

Rev. Linda Anderson-Little, Pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in St. Louis
(and married to a Presbyterian Pastor!)

Advent: day 14

When I witness (or commit) a selfless expression of love, I know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Chris Peet, New York Theological Seminary Student

Advent: day 13

When experts admit that we cannot know for sure and we persist anyway, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. Beth Waltemath, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn NY

Advent: day 12

When the Cubs win the World Series I know the Kindom of God is near.

Rev. Mark W. Wendorf

Advent: day 11

When the table is set, and one by one, or in twos or threes, they come in, the hungry, the lonely, the brokenhearted, the rich, the settled, the just-getting-by, the suburban mom, the single dad, the teen-aged boy, the toddler, the crazy old lady, the star soprano, the shy young man, the nerd, the preoccupied, the too-blessed-to-be-stressed, the neighborhood drunk, the wild-eyed mystic, the of-no-account, the beautiful newborn baby in the arms of her older brother, the tenderhearted, the junky, the old man with the parrot --- when they all come in, in such variety so as to defy describing -- each one carrying their burden of dreams and joy and sorrows -- and the table is round, and there is space for all of them, and more come, and there is laughter, and sobbing, and riotous communion, and time for each to say what is in their heart, and all of them together dwells in the assurance of the boundless goodness of God's grace -- I will know that the realm of God is near.

Lisa Larges, Minister Coordinator, That All May Freely Serve, San Francisco

Advent: day 10

When I see one church member ask another for forgiveness because the member knows he/she has offended the other, I know that the kingdom of God is near.


Rev. Mitch Trigger, First Presbyterian, Rockaway, NJ

Advent: day 9

When everyone realizes & embraces themselves (and others) as created in God's image, unconditionally loved by God, and as children of God ...and all of us treat each other as sacred, then.......I know the kingdom of God is near.

Michael J. Adee, Executive Director & Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians, Santa Fe, NM

Advent: day 8

When people comment on preachers’ theology or insight or eloquence or even humor, and not their sexuality, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Pam Byers, Covenant Network of Presbyterians, San Francisco

Advent: day 7

When I think of the people God has blessed me with, those who have brought me this far, I know the Kingdom of God is near.

Mieke Vandersall, Minister Director, Presbyterian Welcome

Advent: day 6

When I see a deer watching me through my window, defying the odds of all kinds of weather, traffic, and suburban development, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Laura Cunningham, Pastor, Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Pearl River, NY

Advent: day 5

When I see the faces of my small congregation on Sunday mornings, in all their variety of age and color and culture and orientation, when I remember their hopes and fears and joys, sorrows, and triumphs and see that we are all still here together, I know that the kindom of God is near.


Rev. Bob Brashear
Pastor, West-park Presbyterian Church
Manhattan, Upper Westside

Advent: day 4

When cynics' hearts melt, I know that the kingdom of God is near.


Rose Darling, Broadway Presbyterian Church Liaison to Presbyterian Welcome, New York City, NY

Advent: day 3

When I see hatred reduced to struggling for survival against love, I will know that the reign of God is near.

Jenny Howard, Louisville Seminary, Louisville, KY

Advent: day 2

When a developmentally delayed teenager who can barely form a coherent sentence affirms his faith and is received as an active member, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

John Edward Harris, North Church, Queens, Flushing NY