"Ponderings from the Pastor"
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Just as September signals the start of a new school year, so too December is the start of the new year Liturgical Year. And what better way to begin a new year than by celebrating the Season of Advent, that glorious time culminating in the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For those of you who are rushing to get from Thanksgiving right into Christmas, let me encourage you to slow down and savor these days of excitement and anticipation. And then highlight your celebration with us on Monday evening, December 24th at 6:30 pmwhen we will gather for our annual Christmas Eve Worship Service. We look forward to welcoming you and your family to this very special night of singing the familiar carols, lighting candles, and hearing once again the ageless story of how God came to earth wrapped in human flesh so that all the people of the world could experience Him like never before.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Advent, the word comes from the Latin word “adventus”, which means “coming”. It was first celebrated in the early Middle Ages and has continued to be revised and has taken on many new meanings over the centuries. It has developed into a time when Christians around the world prepare their homes and more importantly, prepare their HEARTS to celebrate Jesus’ birth. As I said, it’s a time of anticipation, and for most of us there is a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our world. It’s a time to gather with friends and loved ones… to share not only hand-made and store-bought gifts, but also those gifts that we cannot put a price tag on - including the gift of spending time with one another. I also know that Christmas can be a difficult time for many people… family stresses and estrangement can take away from the celebration and, to me, that is very sad. At a time when the whole world is supposed to be filled with “good cheer”, it can be even more difficult when we are separated by miles or by circumstances.
But maybe we can take this season of Advent and use these four weeks to work on improving those relationships. Maybe we should consider using this time to mend fences and restore wholeness. One of the reasons God chose human birth to reveal Himself to His children, was He wanted to restore the fractured relationship between Himself and His Creation. Shouldn’t we seek to do the same? I know it’s not a traditional “Christmas Song”, but the words of the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” remind us that in order for us to co-exist, we MUST “let peace begin with me”. My prayer for you is that you will take advantage of these upcoming weeks and rebuild some brokenness within yourself and with others, as you prepare to celebrate the Savior’s birth!
Wishing you a very blessed and Merry Christmas!
Pastor Bill
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Just as September signals the start of a new school year, so too December is the start of the new year Liturgical Year. And what better way to begin a new year than by celebrating the Season of Advent, that glorious time culminating in the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For those of you who are rushing to get from Thanksgiving right into Christmas, let me encourage you to slow down and savor these days of excitement and anticipation. And then highlight your celebration with us on Monday evening, December 24th at 6:30 pmwhen we will gather for our annual Christmas Eve Worship Service. We look forward to welcoming you and your family to this very special night of singing the familiar carols, lighting candles, and hearing once again the ageless story of how God came to earth wrapped in human flesh so that all the people of the world could experience Him like never before.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Advent, the word comes from the Latin word “adventus”, which means “coming”. It was first celebrated in the early Middle Ages and has continued to be revised and has taken on many new meanings over the centuries. It has developed into a time when Christians around the world prepare their homes and more importantly, prepare their HEARTS to celebrate Jesus’ birth. As I said, it’s a time of anticipation, and for most of us there is a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our world. It’s a time to gather with friends and loved ones… to share not only hand-made and store-bought gifts, but also those gifts that we cannot put a price tag on - including the gift of spending time with one another. I also know that Christmas can be a difficult time for many people… family stresses and estrangement can take away from the celebration and, to me, that is very sad. At a time when the whole world is supposed to be filled with “good cheer”, it can be even more difficult when we are separated by miles or by circumstances.
But maybe we can take this season of Advent and use these four weeks to work on improving those relationships. Maybe we should consider using this time to mend fences and restore wholeness. One of the reasons God chose human birth to reveal Himself to His children, was He wanted to restore the fractured relationship between Himself and His Creation. Shouldn’t we seek to do the same? I know it’s not a traditional “Christmas Song”, but the words of the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” remind us that in order for us to co-exist, we MUST “let peace begin with me”. My prayer for you is that you will take advantage of these upcoming weeks and rebuild some brokenness within yourself and with others, as you prepare to celebrate the Savior’s birth!
Wishing you a very blessed and Merry Christmas!
Pastor Bill
