Dear Peace Members and Friends,
Christmas is getting closer! I love these days of Advent; days of preparation, anticipation, days of joy and fun, as we look to the celebration of God coming in the flesh—Christmas.
This Sunday we continue our Advent sermon series, “Whose House for Christmas?” with a look at John the Baptist’s “house.” John may be an odd choice. As Garrison Keillor writes: “…….when people came from Jerusalem to hear him [John] preach and to be baptized, he called them a “generation of vipers,” not a welcoming thing to say, and because he wore rags, had a long beard, and fed on locusts, he’s not celebrated at Advent. He was too adventurous. We don’t serve locusts for Christmas dinner, not even in a pie or as seasoning on turkey, so poor John is cast aside, even by Baptists, and we focus instead on shepherds and angels, who are kindly and better dressed.” John? Not “celebrated at Advent.” Mr. Keillor is wrong. We hear from John every Advent and we will hear from him on Sunday because he has an important announcement for all of us.
In worship (9:30am), we’ll also have a children’s message, we’ll sing the wonderful music of the season, and we’ll share in Holy Communion.
Following fellowship time in the Parish Hall, the Adult Education Hour (10:45am) I will have a presentation, “Christmas in the Gospels.” Not all of the Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ birth and the ones that do have a different perspective the Incarnation. I’ll have more on Sunday.
The annual churchwide Advent/Christmas ministry of ELCA Good Gifts also continues. If you’re looking to make a difference in the lives of others, take a moment at church on Sunday to check out the Good Gifts catalog and add to the Christmas tree. It’s a wonderful opportunity!
A reminder that the last Advent Midweek Worship Service is this coming Wednesday, December 18th at 6:30pm. Worship is preceded with dinner at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall.
See you Sunday!
Mark