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Thanksgiving is behind us (the holiday, not the practice) and we are headed toward Christmas. In between we have that season, which seems shorter every year, of Advent. Advent is from the Latin adventus "coming or arrival.” As I am being installed as your pastor the first Sunday in Advent, I wonder what is coming for us as community. I am excited to find out and look forward as we share that journey together. I am also mindful of the season of Advent. It is a threefold coming that we anticipate. The baby Jesus coming as God incarnate in Bethlehem; Immanuel, God with us now; and the second coming of Christ where God will be manifest clearly and not dimly as we see the inbreaking of God at work in the world now. Each week we light a candle... ...and lift up hope, waiting, joy and love. At least I think that is what we lift up. As I write this I looked up the meaning of the candles and found many interpretations. I expect Lutheran Church of Christ the King has its own traditions, and I do not want to move away from that. For now I will go with the first four I found.
Hope keeps us going. The little baby born and laid in a manger brings new life. Where do you see hope? Is it in knowing that God took on humanity and knows what we go through because God has been there? That God is still here, and we see the Spirit of Christ in unexpected places? Or knowing that Christ is coming, and our pain and sorrow is only temporary? I hope for LCCK as the Spirit moves among us. What is to come in the new year? Waiting or preparation. We anticipate and eagerly yearn for many things. But it is not a sit back and let it come waiting. It is a “how can I make beauty, set up the Christmas tree, plan the meals waiting.” It is a “caring for others waiting, reaching out to give of ourselves.” It is “a knowing that the light will shine in the darkness waiting,” and soon our hope and joy and love will be full. Joy is my favorite of the Advent candles. It is a break from what can be a time of introspection and maybe trying too hard and just sitting with all that is good. Joy is the peace that is in our hearts when we let go of all the hurrying and scurrying of the season and just be. Love is all encompassing. We are secure in the knowledge that God loved us first and sent God’s own self in the person of Jesus Christ to set us free from whatever binds us. God loves first, so we dare to love both our neighbors and ourselves. You are worthy to be loved. God said so. May your season of Advent be overflowing with hope, joy, peace, faith, and all those other blessings we have from God in Christ through the Spirit. With Love, Pastor Jessie
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