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Hello St. John’s Family,
Merry Christmas! The joyous season celebrating Christ’s birth is in full swing! I hope you’ve had opportunities to worship our Lord, to pause and reflect on the amazing gift the world has received, and to share in the celebration of Christ’s birth with cherished family and friends. Our Christmas Eve worship services here were powerful ones. We were blessed as our children offered an amazing Christmas pageant (how many Christmas pageants tell the story of Jesus’ birth and include a shepherd dancing the Griddy?!?). We were blessed as beautiful music and meaningful reflections pointed us to the birth of our Savior, and by opportunities to commune at our Lord’s table and to witness the silent beauty of the Light of the world overtaking darkness. Sharing candlelight with each other during the Celebration of Light is incredibly powerful, as we are visually reminded of how the Light of Christ transforms the cold, dark realities of this world into warm, glowing bright spots of love and light. We cannot help but to rejoice and celebrate – our Lord has come to save!
As I thought of what to share with you this week, the words I shared at the end of 2022 came to mind. I sense that, even at Christmas, we can lose sight of the fact that Christ is always with us. I’d like to share those words again, in the hope they are helpful in reminding you how Christ is near.
For many of us, the season of Christmas is an opportunity for rest and reconnecting with family and friends. That is certainly the case for the Leight household, as we’re thankful for opportunities to rest and to share time together as a family. If you often find yourself tired out by the frantic pace of our “normal” life, I pray this season will be a time of renewal for you.
I also recognize how recent days and weeks have been challenging for many in our St. John’s Family. Yes, we rejoice and are uplifted as Christ has come and met us in the coldness of this world. The difficulties of this world, though, do not automatically come to a halt. Even at Christmas, we experience struggles and setbacks. As I reflected on this in my prayers this morning, the following verses came to mind:
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:7-12, NIV
Friends, regardless of the circumstances at hand, know that you are never alone. God’s presence is with us always: at all times, in all situations. There is no place or time when we are not joined by God’s Spirit; there is no challenge where God’s right hand will not hold us fast. For the joyous and glad times, we give thanks; and for the challenging moments, we experience peace in the presence of our God who is right there with us. Always.
I pray those verses will bring you joy and peace today. And I hope you’ll join us in worship this Sunday, December 31st (note we return to our regular schedule, with Contemporary Worship at 9am and Traditional Worship at 10:30). Pastor Ruth will be preaching; check out Luke 10:38-42, and join us in worship-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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