11/30/11

Dear Family of faith,
"Thirty days have September, April, June, and November..." That's the little jingle I learned as a child. Can you believe that we are already at the last day of the month? The year is fast ending and with it comes the darkness of winter. I can't believe that the sun sets at 4:30 p.m. these days-- not good for someone who loves the light like I do.
Speaking of light, have you noticed the lack of it these days? I'm talking about the "darkness" I've seen in people as of late. There are so many people who are struggling with health issues, struggling to keep their homes, struggling to pay insurance bills or get coverage, struggling to keep kids from poor choices, struggling to make ends meet in every conceivable way that it is making many lose hope. Both young and old talk to me about their fears and lack of confidence that anything is ever going to change. This sense of resignation troubles me greatly, and yet I understand it. Maybe I'm hanging with the wrong crowd, but I don't know a single person who would say that they are "better off today" than they were ten years ago. That's where this season of Advent comes in-- this season of waiting for the coming of the Light of the world, for the Hope of the world, namely, Jesus. The church is the one place where the light still shines in the darkness because the gospel is good news-- that God's love will stick with us whatever happens, that God's family is a place where we can share our burdens, that God's Holy Spirit prays for us when we don't even know what to say. Rather than getting stuck in a mire of desperation, we can trust God to guide us on to better days. That's what Sunday worship is about-- believing in promises, experiencing God's power, and feeling the love of people who care.
Last Sunday's worship with communion was a wonderful way to begin our journey towards Christ's birth--- and that is the reason for Christmas. [I was discussing the whole "Happy Holidays!" greeting with a friend today. There are some Christians who are put out by the store policies that forbid their employees to say "Merry Christmas." I think we make too much of it. The word holiday comes from "holy day. Whether they know it or not, those who wish us "Happy Holy Days!" are being religious! The joke's on them! Besides, if someone wishes you "Happy Holidays!", you can just say back, "Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you, too!"] Back to last Sunday-- we sang familiar Christmas choruses and lit the first Advent Candle. Linda Bixby introduced the Giving Tree project where we have the opportunity to buy presents for needy children in our county (it is set up in the narthex), and Sue Mattson reminded us of the need for cookies for the Bazaar's Cookie Walk, as well as baked goods of all kinds. The season has begun, and I thank God that Christ's birth is celebrated in the middle of the darkest season of the year to bring us the gifts of joy and expectation.