Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are, as of Sunday, beginning the Season of Advent. We use this time as one of waiting for Christ to appear, therefore it is a time of expectation… anticipation… preparation. Our world so quickly passes by Thanksgiving, racing on toward the day of Christmas so sales can flourish! While the world is in the fast pace of skipping past the true meaning of “Christmas,” we in the church attempt to focus ourselves even more on the hope and the promises that cannot be bought.
We tend to mingle, even in the church, the two seasons that are before us—Advent, which begins for us on Sunday, December 3, and Christmas, December 25. Both are about waiting for Christ to enter the world; however, Advent is the time of expectation, anticipation, and preparation as we wait for Christ to return again to claim us all. Our focus is in the promise of Christ’s return to claim his people. Christmas is celebrating Christ’s first entrance into the world.
During Advent this year our theme comes from the hymn, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.” Whether our focus is on Christmas OR on Advent, waiting for Christ to return, it truly is about the Father’s love begotten. When Jesus entered our world God’s love was poured out for each and every one of us… when Jesus returns to welcome his children, again, it will be out of his love.
During the seasons of Advent and Christmas we find ourselves longing to experience the deep love God has for us and all of creation… the love that began when the world was created… the love that continued “when the virgin full of grace by the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Savior of our race”… the One “that shines, the long expected,”… the One who will bring an end to the challenges we face and that fill the world with hatred.
Throughout this last year war has brought unrest and pain to Europe and to Israel/Palestine. There are words of hatred being shouted in the streets around the world and in our universities. Death and destruction has come to communities throughout the world and it is time for us, in prayer and in our day-to-day lives, to look to “the Father’s love begotten” in Jesus… the babe in the manger… who died on the cross… who promises to return.
So, let us… long for peace… long for joy… long for redemption… long for wholeness… long for excitement… long for forgiveness… long for hope in Jesus!
The things we hope for cannot be bought in a store and wrapped in a package, but only received as we ask Christ Jesus to come and then we wait with excitement… in the silence for him to meet us.
Come and join us in the beautiful time of “waiting” for Christ… on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights and sing. Sing till your heart is content:
“Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds began to be, he is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending he, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.”
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
Wednesdays: 6:00 p.m. Soup & Salad followed by
7:00 p.m. Worship (Of the Father’s Love Begotten)
Cantata: December 17, 9:30 A.M. with breakfast following (served by the choir)
Christmas Eve: 7:00 p.m. and 11 p.m.
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