|
 Holiday Worship Guide:
A blessed Advent journey to you!
By Rev. Jan Johnson,
Interim Pastor
St. John United Church of Christ
Send a link to a friend
[December 15, 2014]
LINCOLN - As this is being typed, some
of the St. John UCC members are busy writing a daily meditation for
our Advent Booklet. The thoughts and memories and carols are
beginning to come in for retyping and printing. The congregation is
sharing part of their faith through the incredible story of Christ's
birth into this world.
|
|
 Many will connect our God's birth into this world through the
carols we love to sing! Some will connect their faith to the history
which surrounds the birth of Jesus through the real time events of
the time of Quirinus, the Governor of Syria. Still others will feel
close to the manger through the visitation of the angels to the
"shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by
night." All this and more prepares our hearts and our minds, our
homes and our congregations for the celebration of Christ's birth
again this year.
But first comes Advent. Advent is the time of preparation for
Christ's coming. We realize once we begin Advent that there is much
for which to prepare! There are our homes to clean, reminding us
that Jesus was not born in a hospital but in a manger built for
animals. There is food to prepare reminding us that God provides us
with Spiritual Food through Word and Sacrament. There are gifts to
purchase and wrap, reminding us that the Wise of this world brought
the Baby Jesus gifts that would help him live out his earthly life
and that gifts are given from the heart or they are not gifts at
all.
 Even more than ALL of this, Advent is a journey. It is our Spiritual
Journey from death to life, from living life falsely to living life
in the Truth that Christ brings. Advent is the Spiritual Journey
from darkness to the Light of the World. Everything about Advent
gets us ready for the Hope of the World to be born in us and through
us once again this year.
May God Bless Your Journey:
May you arrive safely,
May you live differently because Christ has come, and May your
Advent preparations open you fully to the love of the Christ Child;
Immanuel, God with us!
A Blessed Christmas to all!
Rev. Jan Johnson, Interim Pastor
St. John United Church of Christ
[to top of second column] |
 |
