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Dear Friends,
In this season of Advent – when we patiently anticipate the birth of Christ anew in our hearts – we are at the same time…in the very same breath…confronted daily with stories from around the world that cause our hearts to cry out, “Come, Lord, Jesus…come NOW!” Innocent lives are cut short…wars and rumors of wars continue…injustices against humanity are on the increase…and we find ourselves – understandably, though unsettling – apathetic to so much violence in our country, that when we hear of the “next” troubling tragedy, our common response has simply been, “What now?”
And we love this season of Advent…don’t we? The sight of brightly decorated Christmas trees…the sounds of holiday classics on the radio…the repeat of favorite movies available on all our streaming devices…the gatherings of friends, family and co-workers and the anticipation of gift exchanges all combine to make this time of year somewhat magical…a pleasant season of fun disruptions from “ordinary” life. We gather on Sunday mornings…we are comforted by the traditional scriptures that remind us to “prepare”…and…even if we don’t know all the words of every verse…we will join in the choruses of beloved songs of the season.
For Christians, THIS is our time to shine! This is our time to speak words of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love into a world so seemingly devoid of those very things we try desperately to invoke! Here’s my challenge to you, though: please don’t get so caught up in the pageantry of it all that you forget that you are a representative of Christ…in EVERY moment…of EVERY day! Don’t get me wrong…it isn’t that I don’t want you to ENJOY every moment of this Advent season…I DO…I just pray that your enjoyment of it does not blind you from your responsibility TO it: to be an instrument of Christ’s Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in this world!
I encourage us ALL to approach this season of preparation with intentionality and purpose! I am so incredibly grateful that I have been blessed to walk with the Great River Region into a future yet unknown but filled with abundant possibilities! As we continue walking into this Advent season, may we be open to the new opportunities that the Christ child may reveal anew to us this year! My friends, you don’t need me to tell you that the world needs the love of Christ…now more than ever! Let us truly be the bearers of that light and love – each and every day – and may our neighbors throughout the world know that unconditional love and forgiveness of the One who is coming into the world!
As always…be a blessing, Disciples!
Alison
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