FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK:

During three Wednesday of November and one of December we have studies the work of John the Baptist, the beautiful and familiar Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah, the Second Coming of the Lord and the announcement of the angel Gabriel. We have considered what it means to be surprised by God. We have learned that Advent is a time for spiritual discipline, characterized by repent-ance, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

No doubt about it, Christmas is a beautiful time of the year. Our hearts are lifted by the sometimes breathtaking displays and decorations; including our homes and the church. We enjoy more frequent opportunities for fellowship at family par-ties, social gatherings, and special programs at church. This time of year, love, joy and good cheer abound.

All this activity is, of course, wonderful and necessary. We need occasions to celebrate beauty and friendship. However, the Scripture remind us, the real mean-ing of Christmas is that Almighty God has acted once and for all time to bring about our salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. These help us to explore the depths of what it means to sing:

Good Christians friends, rejoice

With heart and soul and voice;

Now ye need not fear the grave:

News, News! Jesus Christ was born to save!

The Scriptures proclaim the good news that people in every land need to hear. In a world in which so many people suffer because men and women seek power and glory, we are assured that the final victory will be won by Christ, who establish God’s eternal kingdom.

As we prayerfully reflect on the meaning of the Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that although we cannot fully grasp this mystery, we can praise God for the way that God has chosen to act to save us, to set things right in this world. The greatest gift of this season is the opportunity that we all have to renew our faith relationship with the God who has chosen to become “one of us”, a God who feels our pain and knows our joys.

May God bless you, and have a MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS

Pastor Dora