Pastor's Pen - December 2005

Dear Friends in Christ,

"Awake. Awake and greet the new morn" was the beginning phrase of our first song for this Advent season. These are important words for all of God’s people. A new day has come and we are being invited to be awake for it and to participate in it. If asked, the people of God would probably say that this is not a word for them as they have already been brought to faith by the work of the Spirit. Yet, even the Church can find that it has fallen asleep much like Jesus’ closest disciples did as he prayed in the Garden. Taken for granted the Word of God loses its power in our lives. It is no longer the joyous surprise of God’s love and grace freely given but rather some sort of entitlement that we can access when we wish and ignore equally quickly.

The season of Advent is a wake-up call for God’s people. In this season we begin with a consideration of the promise of the end times and then go on to explore the promise of a Savior in anticipation of the celebration once again of Jesus’ birth. In the northern hemisphere these are days of increasing darkness both in reality and metaphorically. It is in the midst of that darkness that we are privileged to proclaim the good news of the light of the world whose birth we anticipate and whose presence we celebrate. There is no energy crisis when it comes to the power of the light of Christ illuminating the fulness of God’s grace for the sake of all of God’s children.

This is a season for families to use the Advent wreath and its candles as a center for devotion, for thanksgiving, and for praise. Advent calendars with religious themes can be one way to involve family members of all ages in the telling of the story of God’s promised salvation. Such devotional acts help us to wait in prayerful anticipation in a time in which the secular world encourages to rush and rush.

This Advent season might very well be the opportunity for you to consider alternative ways to remember family members and loved ones in this holiday season. Rather than another dust collector, perhaps a gift given in the individual’s honor to one of the mission areas of the church or to Habitat for Humanity or another worthy service organization might very well be in order.\

Whatever way you choose to observe this season, may you be awake in your waiting.