December 2007
Happy Advent.... and then a Merry Christmas
Stores
have been celebrating Christmas for months now. Have you been able
to go anywhere without seeing a snowflake or a Santa Claus? I know
I haven’t and in early November I heard a radio station going to an
“All Christmas” format! It is really too much for me.
Every
year as the signs of a consumer Christmas come earlier and earlier,
I mourn the loss of Advent. Our culture wants nothing to do with
Advent because aside from a calendar and maybe some candles, there
is nothing to buy or sell with this important season of the
Christian Church. Why is this season so important? I believe
anything worth celebrating is worth preparing for with care and
thoughtfulness. How long does it take to plan a wedding? A
graduation party? A birthday party? Since Christmas is worth
celebrating, let’s prepare in Advent.
In Advent
we prepare by walking with the people of God who anticipated the
birth of the Messiah. We wait with Simeon who sat in the temple
anticipating the arrival of Christ. We walk with Elizabeth whose
child would be a proclaimer and messenger and Mary whose child would
be the promised and Messiah. We stand with Joseph whose fear and
confusion pales in comparison with his faithfulness.
When
these preparations are complete, we celebrate. We celebrate with
our voices and our hands. We don’t celebrate for just one day, but
for a season. This is a party worth staying at for a while.
Christmas Eve we’ll rejoice at 5, 7, 9, and 10:30 pm. Christmas Day
we’ll party at 10 am. The party continues with a free Christmas
concert Friday the 28th
at 7 pm with David Harsh. Invite your friends to see David and hear
great music about greater news! We are committed to telling the
world what the birth of Christ is all about.
Prepare
and party with us!
Blessings
to you,
Pr. Will
|