This coming Sunday begins Advent. Wikipedia calls Advent "a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the Birth of Jesus and the return of Jesus at the 2nd Coming." Pretty cool and pretty amazing!
For our congregation there will be lots happening over the next few weeks. We will have lots of work (you will see notices about decorating, helping with CR Thanksgiving [this Thursday], participating in missions [Angel Tree for prisoner's children, feeding and clothing people at Tent City on December 24th noon-2pm], much music (Choir Cantata on December 8th 11am, Praise Cantata on December 15th at 9am, Special Musicians [Christy Garrett, violinist, on December 1st, Rachel Cole, cellist, on December 15th and 24th at Christmas Eve Communion], food (please plan to come to the parsonage on December 7th from 10am till NOON for Christmas Brunch), Community Events like the Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4th at 6pm, and just bussiness/fun/friends. Please make plans to be part of everything!
But to enjoy and embrace Advent we need to start at the right place. That place is Jesus. Jesus will meet us where we are. Many struggle with this time of the year. I struggle with business. Some struggle with losses that have happened during the year. Some fight addictions that seem especially strong during Thanksgiving and Advent. Depression looms for some of us. Finances are a concern for many. And some just worry about what is happening in our country and the world. Where do we start so that we can enjoy 'the light of the world' we sing about? This year lets start with a Psalm. We will have plenty of time to savor the Christmas story. Sermons and devotionals will tell us about the prophecies that foretold Jesus' coming. But this Psalm is about who Jesus is ... what Jesus is ... why Jesus is one we can count on. Psalm 95:3 says "For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Simple ... concise ... true ... and able to be carried in our hearts every day of this busy season. Our God is able to carry us through whatever we face, enter wherever we are and overcome whatever opposes us. That is the 'why' we sing and the 'who' we sing to/about. He is so worth the preparation and expectation of Advent! AMEN
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