A Letter from Jane

​From the pastor….
 
I suppose that, in the scheme of things, looking back through all of history, things aren’t so bad these days.  There are certainly a lot of terrible things happening in the world.  I think of all the unrest and violence.  Yemen comes to mind as particularly horrible.  In our own country the reality and pervasiveness of sexual harassment and assault is finally coming to light.  There have been huge disappointments at hearing some of the names along with a sense of waiting for the next shoe to drop.  Not to mention the incredible hypocrisy of the reactions of some the accused.  Anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or assault knows the harm it does to the victim.  It can be life-changing and not necessarily for the better.

It helps to keep things in perspective, I guess.  Things have been far, far worse.  They could also be much, much better.
 
So, we wait.  We wait in anticipation of the one has come and is yet to come.  We wait for the one has brought light and life into the world, the one who has brought peace and love.
 
But we still have to wait and waiting is not something many of us are good at.  With instant news, UPS and FedEx there is hardly anything we have to wait for any more.  All it takes is a click -
 
Except for when it comes to the more important things, things like love, the meaning of life, true happiness, true blessedness.
 
So, we wait.  Still and again.
 
Waiting is not a bad thing.  It’s just that we mostly don’t like it.  Advent is a time of waiting.  Even though Christmas is already happening all around us we still do have to wait until Dec. 24, no matter how many celebrations we go to before then.  So, acknowledge the waiting you’re already doing and see if it might be better than you expect it to be.
 
If you’re not sure what to wait for, consider these words from “Come Now, O Prince of Peace.”
 

1    Come now, O Prince of peace, make us one body.
      Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
 
2    Come now, O God of love, make us one body.
      Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
3    Come now and set us free, O God, our Savior.
      Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all nations.
 
4    Come, Hope of unity, make us one body.
      Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile all nations.

 
Then, on Dec. 24 in a matter of only 8 hours we will go from waiting to not waiting.  Because of the way the church year calendar works this year the morning is Advent and the evening is Christmas.
 
Here’s the schedule:
Sunday, December 24          9:00am and 11:00 am         The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 24          4:00pm                                  Christmas Eve.
 
In anticipation, may you have a blessed and wait-filled Advent.
 
Pastor Jane
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