Weekly Lectionary Spotlight
Anna Julia Cooper | Isaiah 2:1-5
November 30, 2025
“In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills;” Isaiah 2:1
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
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“The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.”
Anna Julia Cooper
Listen to Dr. Smith’s Weekly Advent Reflection
Scripture: “In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:1-5, NRSVue)
*These AI-generated images are artistic recreations that evoke the world these women inhabited. They are imaginative renderings of their time and faith, not literal likenesses.
Bible Passage
Her Interpretation: Listen to the lectionary with the voice of Anna Julia Cooper—a visionary educator, activist, and exemplar of what it means to be an American citizen in the fullest, most hopeful sense. Cooper’s words echo as the only woman, and the only African American woman, quoted in the American passport. There you’ll find her say,
“The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.”
Most people know Cooper as a pioneering essayist or formidable orator. But did you know she wrote a play? Around 1940, Anna Julia Cooper gifted us “Christmas Bells: A One-Act Play for Children,” a gem too often hidden in history. In this season of Christmas plays and Advent pageants, imagine how powerful it would be to resurrect Cooper's play in your community, your congregation, your classroom. If not for this Advent, maybe next year—let her imaginative vision inspire new celebrations of hope.
Cooper’s “Christmas Bells” brings Isaiah’s vision down to earth—in a kitchen, in the dreams of children, in music and play. Set during wartime, with their father away and their mother working, Hannah, Nannette, and Annikins could be overwhelmed by need and worry. Instead, they let hope take center stage. The children ask simple, holy questions: Is the Christ Child coming here? Can we have a tree? How do we make peace in our world? In the face of uncertainty, they respond not with despair, but with creativity—they play, they “make believe,” they share letters, prayers, anticipation, and joy.
When the Sunshine Club arrives—a group of generous, spirited neighborhood children—they burst into the home bringing gifts, joy, and a Christmas tree. The Sunshine Club isn’t just there to deliver things; they embody community care and inclusivity, making sure that no child is left out of Christmas cheer. Through their presence, need and worry turn into abundance—a celebration of kindness and hope for Hannah, Nannette, and Annikins, and a living example of what Christian love looks like in community.
This Advent, Anna Julia Cooper invites us to live as creators—to ring in the Christ that is to be. She encourages us to end 2025 not by settling for the world as it is, but by embracing the childlike excitement to build, to play, to love, and to prepare for a world remade in God’s peace.
The points below will help you continue to ponder.