Dear Church,
With the beginning of December we are given a great gift: the call to slow down and wait. If we are honest with ourselves, slowing down and waiting are not in the vocabulary of most of our lives. I am the first to admit that life rushes on in a frenzied pace and that “I want it now!”
Yet, the Church gives us the gift of Advent. What a counter-cultural season we embody as Christians!
Slowing down, and waiting. Slowing down to listen for the still small voice of the One who came, who comes, and who will come again. Waiting for God to be re-born in each of us, birthed through us – the church – into the world.
Advent is our New Year. It is a time to start afresh. Advent is an opportunity to clean out the mangers of our hearts, making room for Christ to be born anew. It is a time of “getting ready,” of “waking up,” of doing the hard work of turning swords into plows, of praying for the peace of Jerusalem, and the peace of our lives together.
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During this busy season, slow down and wait. Find a prayer partner. If you would like to be paired with another member of the congregation, I can help you. Resources for the journey of Advent will be made available at the church, and on the church website. |
This week one of you asked me if I could her find a prayer partner. What a wonderful Advent practice – to pray with another brother or sister for the church, the pastor, the world, the community, and for each other.
Which leads me to extend this invitation to you:
Let us enter this Season of Advent with a holy expectancy…
knowing and trusting that God will come again!
With Christ’s Peace
Pastor Grace