Expectations!
By Pastor Ken Kramer
St. John's United Church of Christ |
Send a link to a friend
[December 22, 2016]
Advent
and Christmas bring the "Season of Expectations." It is the season
when we sing “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” and “O Come, O Come,
Emmanuel” as we wait for the one who shall be called “Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
|
|
 This year the expectation is heightened by the many concerns that
embrace our world: e.g. the poverty of many and the current economic
struggle of the middle class, for many just to keep their homes.
Then there are the disasters of global warming with the flooding and
violent storms, and the stress of the Presidential Election. And of
course, the terror strikes, wars and rumors of war and gun violence
that have us yearning for peace and goodwill for all.
I have noticed over the years that when our distress is great, the
sooner we wish for Christmas to come. I believe it is more than just
a marketing ploy, that we put up our Christmas lights right after
Halloween; for we seek to express a beacon of hope to a “weary
world.” It is during these harder times that the buying of many
gifts seems less important than the care of our spiritual needs.
 So we wait, lighting the candles to dispel the darkness, that will
announce the “Good News that should be for all people” that “unto us
is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”
[to top of second column] |
So, this Advent, we wait; to seek God’s blessing upon us for a new
future God has promised us in the baby born in Bethlehem.
Yes, it is a great season of “Expectation” for Lincoln and for the
world. May our hearts grow with anticipation and excitement for our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas, people of Lincoln, from St. John UCC. May you have
a very blessed New Year.
|
