From the Desk of the Associate Pastor

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Friends in Christ.

The holidays are upon us as is the pressure that our culture puts on us to have the perfect celebration of this season. But to what end? Do we buy more things just to watch them never get used or become boring to us in just a few weeks? Do we bend over backwards to create a “hallmark” moment that someone will still find ways to complain about?

As a church, we do celebrate this season differently, however we still often miss the mark. The sanctuary will be decorated, and we will embrace the liturgical riches of Advent and Christmas. There will be plenty of programs and events. In a world that has seemed bleaker than we would like, these things are all more than welcome. Yet, all of us must be careful not to make an idol out of the liturgy, celebrations, gifts, or “the way we have always done it”. We must also always make room for those who are suffering and grieving. With that said, the single most important thing is that Jesus Christ has come into the world and brought a light that cannot be extinguished. The incarnation is a miracle and salvific and we must never forget that.

Yes, that sounds like a lot of “shall nots” or cautionary items. However, there is good news here because in realizing this is not a time to focus on what we have or do, the pressure is taken off of us. In our culture of “do, do, do” or “buy, buy, buy” this is a time where we rejoice in what has been done for us in the birth of Jesus. God so loved the world that he came into it to live among us, teach us, love us, dies for us, and be raised from the dead.

In preparing for the holidays, just remember this i snot about what we do but about what has been done for us. Yes, we want to honor the magnitude of what God has done for us but a manger in the backwoods of the Roman Empire was more than good enough for him. Rejoice, be merry, but also give yourself and others grace. God’s love for us is what perfects this season,.

Pastor Andrew