12/24/2017
4 Advent & Christmas Eve
This Sunday has a dual identity in the church: 4 Advent and Christmas Eve. This gives us an opportunity that hasn’t happened since 2006 to explore the connection between the annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary (4 Advent) and the birth of Jesus (Christmas Day).
12/17/2017
3 Advent
John the Baptizer said that his task was to give witness that the Savior was about to arrive. And when he had given his witness, and when Jesus arrived, John told his followers that it was time for them to go to Jesus.
John’s job was not to be the focus, but to bring focus to Jesus.
12/10/2017
2 Advent
Reverend Ardyss preached on the need for us to find a place for peace in our lives; the peace that we are on a journey, going where God wants us to go.
12/3/2017
1 Advent
… The stores had aisle after aisle of blinking Christmas tree lights, silver metallic Christmas trees, red satin bells, and lots of statues of Santa, snowmen, elves, and reindeer. The stores were sparkling and musical and happy; but they only had one blow-up crèche scene with a cartoon-ish underinflated version of the baby Jesus in it. The experience got me thinking about the lights of Christmas versus the light of Christ at Christmas.