With the first Sunday in Advent behind us we look forward to the ongoing waiting for the Christ who was, who is, and who is to come. During the days leading up to my favorite day of the year, Christmas, I find it difficult to focus on my work and to contain my child-like enthusiasm for the Christ who comes at Christmas, yet all of my enthusiasm won't make that day come any quicker. I have that same kind of enthusiasm for the return of Christ, but in that in between space I wait with excitement and enthusiasm because I know that the promises of eternal life we have are real. During Advent there's an opportunity to invest in the waiting by plunging deeply into prayer, Scripture, and worship in the church which seems counter to the logic of the world. We get pretty busy shopping, baking, decorating, and “doing” Advent in the form of a short-cut that runs directly to Christmas, but Advent is important for us and our faith. Spend time talking to your loved ones about what it means to wait expectantly for Christ, help a neighbor, volunteer in the community, and pray for others and yourself to lean into Advent where we wait for Christ who was, who is, and who is to come.
Pastor Paul