Advent officially begins 4 Sundays before Christmas, and so we ‘re already in that season. So I’d like to ask each of us reading the newsletter: What’s the difference between expecting and waiting?
Advent has been said to be both. It’s the expectation that God is coming into our lives, the light of the world is arriving at the darkest time of the year; it is intentionally set up that way. Light=Good, Dark=Not Good. Those are the rules of the Gospel that tell us the most about the meaning of Christ, the Gospel of John, although the one that tells us the most about Jesus’ birth circumstances is Luke.
Christianity is like that, giving us food for thought in many different ways and messages so that we might always keep God in the forefront of our minds. Or our hearts. Or our Spirits? OOooooh, it’s hard to know which one we should focus on, isn’t it? So Advent celebrates each Sunday with different themes and candles that we light to celebrate Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy. Can we have all four at once? What about those things that make us crazy like preparing for parties, long lines at the shopping counters, the Presidential candidates telling us what’s good for us when not a one of them has set foot in Townsend?
Indeed, Advent is a series of conundrums through which we must pass in order to get to our blessed event, the arrival of God in our lives. And the good news is that God will arrive, no matter how frustrated we get. The other good news is that there’s lots going on at TCC that will help us focus our hearts, minds, AND Spirits by the 25th.
If you haven’t been to TCC lately, we’re growing in our faith and our vibe. We had over 90 people in worship recently on an ordinary Sunday. How did that happen? I’d like to think it’s because we’re getting to know God in all kinds of cool ways, through music, prayerful study of God’s word, better coffee, and a renewed feeling that we’re growing closer together · again as a people. So as you come to Sunday worship and renew old friendships, consider corning to events that help anticipate God ‘s arrival such as the Christmas Tree lighting on ‘ December 6. The Living Nativity put on by the Church School and Youth Group on Saturday December 12. The service for those who can’t find their joy or who want to remember their losses at the Longest Night December 17. Or come and see how our kids have prepared for Christ’s arrival on the 24th at 4 pm attending the Family Christmas Celebration, or celebrate the traditional Christmas story attending Lessons and Carob. at 11 pm on Christmas Eve, as we welcome God into our lives in a candlelight vigil.
We have choices in our lives on how, or even whether, to find God’s presence. We can be busy waiting in lines to get gifts. Or we can anticipate, with a bunch of other joyful people of God, Christ’s birth and the expectation of renewal and hope. So, my friends-what IS the different between expecting and waiting? I hope you will ask this in your heart, and I hope to see you all in December with all the love, joy, peace, and hope that God’s love brings into our lives.
Leave a Reply