With each passing day, week, month, and year, one of the ways in which God has
challenged and moved me in life is to be more grateful. It is not only because we just
celebrated Thanksgiving that I share this but also because we are now in the season of
Advent.
Advent is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course,
we’re preparing for Christmas and all that it involves for each of us and our families. For
many of us we prepare and set up decorations, gatherings, lists, menus, gifts, and much
more. In the life of our church, we go from giving Thanksgiving food bags to giving
Christmas food bags to our pantry recipients, preparing our church with decorations, the
Christmas meals and parties, Advent candle lightings and readings, Christmas Eve
Service, and all the things seen and unseen.
I am so grateful to God for all that we have. I’m thankful that we can celebrate the birth
of Christ and what Christ has done and continues to do for us. I am grateful for how we
can do all that we do, not only for ourselves but also for many who are in need in our
community. I encourage all of us to be more grateful as we go about all that we do in
preparation for Christmas. May we not only prepare the things all around us and on our
to do list but also prepare our hearts and spirits as we look to Christ who came, who
died and resurrected for us, who calls us to be living witnesses and disciple-makers,
and who will one day return.
Advent is a time to prepare for Christmas as well as for Christ’s return on day. And as
we prepare, Jesus calls us to continually be prepared as we do everything for him. In
being thankful for all the gifts, we have received as well as being able to give to others,
let us always be thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ for us and for all!
From Pastor Tim and Mrs. Preacher, we thank you for the blessing of being your
pastoral family, and we wish for you a happy and blessed Christmas season!
Pastor Tim
Dec 01