Pastor's Message (December 2011)

November 27th marks the beginning of Advent. This is the time we proclaim that the “light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” During these four weeks of Advent, we look forward to the incarnation of God in the complete story of our life and we look forward to the return of Christ to finish the work begun among us when Jesus was born. It’s tempting to get caught up in the sentimentality of Christmas forgetting that in Christ God became incarnate in the world amidst its horrors and tragedies. The incarnation of God in Christ becomes meaningful as we see that God shares our story, remembers our struggles, bears our sorrows and feels our joys. The first line of the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” brings this eternal story of yearning into our midst: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” This hymn affirms God’s presence with us now acting to bring us life now and yet to come.

Advent is a time when we as members of the Body of Christ can affirm that God is incarnate with us sharing our story in its entirety, the good and the bad, the explainable and the unexplainable, freeing us to choose life because God has loved us. There is no part of our story that is unimportant to God. “There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.”

During this season of hope and anticipation, we see our needs and the needs of “the least of our brothers and sisters” more clearly because the light of Christ is there making them more apparent. I would encourage all of us to celebrate the life of Christ among us in this season of Advent by choosing to live fully and joyfully and by being attentive to Christ leading us into service and ministry among those whom the darkness has overwhelmed. The hope of this season is found in the living of this season.

In Christ, Doug

 

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

 

Advent Activities At a Glance.....

December 4 at 5:00 p.m. - Christmas Caroling. Bring the family for a festive evening. After caroling at our shut- ins we will return to the church for refreshments

December 18 - “WHAT IS IT ABOUT A BABY”, a Christmas pageant will be presented during worship. The use of music, text, instruments and technology will give us a peek into the life of Jesus as a baby. Come, bring your family and friends and enjoy.

December 24 at 7:00 p.m. - Candlelight service followed by fellowship and sharing wassail and snacks. No 10:00 p.m.service.

December 25 - Communion will be served on Christmas Day during our worship service.