From the Pastor’s desk...
Advent - a Latin word meaning “Coming”
“Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come Lord Jesus!”
Dear friends in Christ,
As a child, I remember thinking that Christmas could not come soon enough! But these 25 days of Advent waiting teach us an important lesson. Much of life is spent waiting. When we are three we can’t wait to be four. In middle school we look forward to high school. Arriving there we take college bound classes or prepare to learn a trade. We look forward to our first job and cashing our first pay check. We wait for that special person, a life partner and marriage and then the gift of children. We save and plan for retirement. But our Advent waiting is different. This is something over which we have no control. We can do nothing to hasten the arrival of Emmanuel (God with us) and the celebration of his birth.
The entire Old Testament points to Jesus as the one who is coming. Prophets foretold God’s Messiah who would save God’s people from their sin and usher in God’s Kingdom on earth. As the four weeks of advent move ahead, our waiting becomes more specific. We learn the identity of Jesus mother Mary and earthly father Joseph. How God sent the Angel Gabriel to tell both of the honor and joy and heartbreak that awaited them as His parents. We also learn of other major players in God’s work on earth, John the Baptist and his family.
We light the Advent wreath to mark the four weeks of the season. Our personal advent calendars help us wait as we open little number doors that contain Bible verses and activities that help us count down the days. Our anticipation grows for each day his arrival draws nearer.
Until He comes like the bridesmaid in Jesus parables let us light our lamps and place smiles on our faces and enjoy many great family traditions! Putting up the Christmas tree, baking once a year cookies, enjoying a Christmas concert that inspires us to come home and dust off favorite C.D.s. of Christmas hymns and carols or watching a favorite movie are all creative ways to spend the time. But they cannot compare with the time spent in our Father’s house in worship and place Christ in Christmas. “May you find your joy in everything that leads to God.” said Mother Teresa. We hunger to hear God’s word and receive the sacrament with our church family as God replenishes the oil in the burned out lamps of our lives. Faith is lived one day at time. Baptism’s promise is not a one time trip to the font in a nice dress worn by your great grandma at her baptism. It is the beginning of a great journey with Christ. We seek the guiding light of God’s word to enlighten our pathway. We will need the oil of prayer. The person who is not praying is standing in the dark. Soon we forget God and fear sets in. We want to enjoy the hymns and carols of Christmas played by talented church musicians.
With every act of kindness we set a a beacon of light so God may see where we are and tell Him that he may find us at our post!
I look forward to taking Advent’s journey to Christmas with you !
Let us pray together each day,
“Stir up your power, O Lord and come!”
God bless, P Dave
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