A Word from Our Pastor…
What a treat it was Sunday for me to get to sit in the congregation with you and receive the gift of the Sounds of the Season musical program. The first song, “A Great Light!,” caused me to reflect on this season of light when these words rang out: “The people walking in darkness shall see a great light!” This passage is from Isaiah 9:2, but the tense varies in my English Standard Version. It says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (emphasis mine). I like the emphasis the song puts on the present and future tense. We shall see a great light!
The light is growing in our midst week by week. Here is the trajectory of the light…
The four weeks of Advent find us lighting single candles as we wait with the prophets and world long ago for hope, love, joy, and peace to come into a dark world. Each week the light from our Advent wreath grows a little brighter. On Christmas Eve, we will light the Christ candle, the largest and brightest of our church candles to mark the inbreaking of “The Great Light” of Jesus. Then comes a miracle moment! The single light of Christ truly becomes an even greater light as each of us raises our little candle and sings “O Holy Night.” Suddenly, the entire sanctuary radiates with light, warmth, smiles, tears, resounding joy, and worship. We become a “great light” in the world beaming the Light of Jesus!
What will you do to share the light of Christ this Christmas? I have a challenge for you. Give to support our Christmas Eve offering. This offering will help us provide beds for children in our community. I can already see the joy radiating from a child who receives his very own special bed where they can “sleep in heavenly peace.” This is our motivation. This is our opportunity. This is one way we can shine the Light of Christ in a world living in darkness. Thank you in advance for giving.
I look forward to seeing you on the fourth Sunday of Advent as we light the candle of Peace and worship the Prince of Peace!
Merry Christmas!
Jimmy