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Hello St. John’s Family,
Sunday, December 15 was a wonderful day in the life of St. John’s! From the opening note of our first worship service to the closing note of the Festival of Carols, Sunday was marked by powerful offerings of music that lifted our souls. It felt so good to sing, laugh, and be together as beautiful music filled our day, all while pointing to the source of the true hope we share during the Advent and Christmas seasons. I am so thankful for all our choir and bell choir members, and all the musicians who offer their time and gifts to God while leading us in worship. Sunday reminded us how we are blessed by the outstanding leadership Roy Nelson, Alissa Nelson, Brian Barber, and Nanette Lutz provide for our Music Ministries; I want to thank them for the dedication and excellence that marks their service to God here. In a world marked by news of division, hatred, and violence, Sunday radiated God’s goodness and light.
So here we are, on the cusp of Christmas: eagerly anticipating the warmth, beauty, and light that accompanies the birth of Christ. We’ve been waiting for this moment for weeks – perhaps even months – counting down the days until we can again celebrate the arrival of God-with-us. We need this. We need to see the light of Christ and the hope that brings; we need to be reminded of joy springing up unexpectedly in the night among a group of meager shepherds. We’ve been waiting so long in such a dark time; thank goodness Christmas is almost here.
As I reflected this week on how much I’m longing for Christmas, it struck me how faithful people living in Jesus’ day also longed for the arrival of Emmanuel – yet in a much different way. While we count down the days, faithful folk in Jesus’ time had been waiting for decades, even centuries, for the arrival of the Messiah. They waited with great hope while having no idea of God’s timeline. In Luke chapter 2, we hear of Simeon and Anna, who had faithfully waited their entire lives for a glimpse of the Messiah. Neither Simeon nor Anna got to hear the angel choir, yet they felt a nudge to go to the temple as Mary and Joseph took their newborn child and presented the required offering. Happening upon the Christ child, they were overjoyed. Simeon even exclaimed that he could now die in peace (Luke 2:29). A lifetime of waiting was fulfilled in a few brief moments, as God again revealed how God always keeps God’s promises.
I pray you will hold on to that as you await Christmas! No matter what chaos is happening around us, we know that Christ has come, and Christ will come again. That is what we eagerly anticipate, and that is the foundation of the hope that we celebrate at Christmas.
This weekend will bring two meaningful opportunities to worship as Christmas approaches. On Saturday evening (12/21) at 6pm, we’ll offer our Blue Christmas Service: an opportunity for all to come as they are and be reminded that a Light shines in the darkness, and darkness can never overcome that Light. I hope you’ll pray for our Blue Christmas Service and all who attend. May the Light of Christ shine hope into the heavy and dark places in our lives. Then on Sunday morning (12/22), we’ll gather at 10:30am for one worship service, as our children present their Christmas Pageant, A Scuba Christmas. I hope to see you in worship this weekend-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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