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A Word From Our Pastor…
Happy Advent, Y’all! Our pilgrimage to Christmas joy is well underway. Here are three things for you on this chilly morning.
1. Before there’s joy, there is sometimes sorrow. The past few weeks have been sitting heavy with me. I have officiated two funerals the past couple of weeks, visited and prayed for the sick among us, and walked with a family the past few days as their loved one passed away. Grief sits heaviest often during the holidays. I have shared that burden with you this season. Know that I am praying for the families among us who are experiencing a “blue holiday” to discover the light that shines in the darkness and a song of joy that “melts the clouds of sadness; drives the dark of doubt away.”
Here is a resource for you to consider (click here). It is a podcast by Dr. Alison Cook. She is someone who has blessed my ministry over the past few years with her depth and insight. She is a therapist and author who guides her followers through some of their toughest challenges with wisdom, kindness, and grace.
2. “There’s a song in the air!” I hope you are listening to some of the great sacred music of the Christmas season. I offer you a solid, classic album for the season by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir titled A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas. It is one of my personal favorites! Another option that was shared with me this week is Christmas Morning by Paul and Hannah McClure. I hope these give you a little inspiration as you listen.
3. I hope you join us for the parade tailgate on Saturday. We will gather in the parking lot in front of Big Lots out by the street starting around 9:00 a.m. We will have coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts to giveaway. This is a great way to reach out to our community by sharing a small act of grace and hospitality. I look forward to seeing you out there on Saturday morning!
See you Sunday!
Jimmy