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For those that were present at the 9:00am service last Sunday, and were there for the traditional Advent Wreath Lighting, you may recall it was a memorable one.
Upfront, the Erspamer family, Brittany, Matt and baby Emerson were getting ready to light the candles. Matt had just finished reading, and Brittany had just taken the mic, holding Emerson, his bright and shiny baby face looking out at the congregation, and his whole body facing the crowd. Before Brittany was able to get a word out, Emerson did what babies do best…he let go of what appeared to be the entire contents of his stomach; all down his front and all over his momma.
Many in the congregation, on instinct, began looking for any paper product they could find, resisting the temptation to all run in a mob to the front and hand her a collective boatload of tissue.
Brittany, unsure of what to do, decided to just keep reading. Only Emerson, happy baby that he is, kept whapping the script with his drippy little hands, making it impossible to read. Matt was speedily trying to get the candles lit. Swiftly and without a word, a friend from the choir walked over and gently took Emerson into her arms, while Brittany read the next sentence:
“This candle is the symbol of the joy we have in Jesus Christ, no matter the circumstances.”
She giggled. We all giggled. As we finished in corporal prayer, Pastor Matt, who had snuck away to fetch some napkins, met them on their way back to their seats.
It was joy and mess and family. It was Advent and the Kingdom and Christmas.
Jesus Christ always, no matter the circumstances.
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