FBCL Family,
It’s December already?! I think this might be how we all feel. Another Christmas season is upon us. The shopping, the planning, the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday deals, and the stress of the season will begin to set in. My hope is that as we celebrate Advent together that we might hear from the Spirit of the Lord during this sacred time. Advent means “coming” or “arrival” it is the time in which we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ and we celebrate God’s unconditional love. It will be challenging for us to celebrate this in the busyness and struggle of our lives, but it is because of those challenges that we must be diligent in the preparation of our hearts for Christmas. During our services we will have various members come up and light the Advent wreath. We do this as a visual reminder of the themes of Advent: Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy. The white candle represents Christ. There is something deeply meaningful when we do these traditions together. We join the past, present, and future generations of Christians that have eagerly awaited the birth of the Christ child. I imagine that we join that “so great cloud of witnesses” the Apostle Paul mentions in Hebrews 12. My prayer is that we will all be struck by the Psalmist’s words,
“Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son.2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. 3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. 4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. 5 May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.” Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
After our celebration of Christ the King last Sunday, we remember that Jesus came as a baby to earth. He came as a humble servant to serve the world and offer us new life. He offers us reconciliation. The Christmas season I pray we do not miss the wonder and mystery of the most life changing event to ever happen. I hope that we can gather together to praise God. We pray together Immanuel, God with us, touch our hearts and minds so that we might be reminded that you are near to us. Amen.
Peace,
Pastor Joy