Welcome to Living Word Lutheran Church
Living the Word...Spreading the Word
6108 Chester Street
Arlington, TN
from the pastor
From the Pastor’s Desk
Do you find it curious that our new church year begins in darkness, and gets darker still here in the Northern Hemisphere, until we reach the shortest day of the year, just days before we rejoice at the birth of a baby, who brings light to all the world?
Brings light and IS light!
Advent is the season of preparing for that light to enter, seeking ways to find pinpricks of light shining in the darkness and trying to accustom our eyes to the slowly increasing brightness that is building so we aren’t blinded when that light fully breaks and we gaze at the glory of God.
So prepare for the light. Don’t engage in frantic activity for its own sake; rather thoughtfully, carefully, prayerfully prepare to greet the dawn of Emmanuel, God with us.
And keep your sunglasses handy!
This poem is a powerful invitation to the reality of God’s inbreaking kingdom. Opening our eyes to that holy reality is the way to meet the Light honestly and gratefully, in ways that changes us and therefore the world.
All I Really Want by Quinn G. Caldwell
If you came to this place expecting a tame story,
you came to the wrong place.
If you came for a story that does not
threaten you,
you came for a different story than the one
we tell.
If you came to hear of the coming of a God
who only showed up so that you could have a
nice day
with your loved ones,
then you came for a God whom we do not
worship here.
For even a regular baby is not a tame thing.
And goodness that cannot threaten complacency
and evil
is not much good at all,
And a God who would choose to give up power
and invincibility
to become an infant for you,
certainly didn't do it just so you could have dinner.
But.
If you came because you think unwed teenage mothers
are some of the strongest people in the world.
If you came because you think that the kind of people who work third
shift doing stuff you'd rather not do might attract an angel's
attention before you, snoring comfortably in your bed, would.
If you came because you think there are wise men and women to be
found among undocumented travelers from far lands and
that they might be able to show you God.
If you came to hear a story of tyrants trembling
while heaven comes to peasants.
If you came because you believe that God loves the animals
as much as the people
and so made them the first witnesses to the saving of the world.
If you came for a story of reversals
that might end up reversing you.
If you came for a tale of adventure and bravery,
where strong and gentle people win,
and the powerful and violent go down to dust,
where the rich lose their money but find their lives
and the poor are raised up like kings.
If you came to be reminded that God loves you too much
to leave you unchanged.
If you came to follow the light
even if it blinds you.
If you came for salvation and not safety,
then, ah, my friends,
you are precisely in the right place.
Advent blessings to you all,
Pastor LaVonne
Pastor LaVonne Johnson
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As the Body of Christ we seek out, gather and support one another in our discipleship. That's why our fellowship at Living Word Lutheran Church is so important to us. Due to COVID-19 cases in the area, fellowship events are currently on hold.
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Our church congregation actively supports the community, recognizing others, even those very different from ourselves, as neighbors worthy of our respect, concern and compassion.
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