Advent is a season of preparation as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus – Immanuel – God with us! In the church, the month of December is a month full of activities that help us to prepare: the Expressions Choir concert, Advent Festival, Women’s Christmas Dessert, special Wednesday Night Live activities, and "Lessons and Carols" Sunday with the Traditions Choir. Not to mention all of the preparations that you and your family are doing at home as well.
For many of you, you are busy decorating the house, shopping and mailing gifts, making delectable treats to share with family and friends, and writing out Christmas cards. Some of you might even be putting up Christmas lights at the last minute since we do not have any snow and you can still easily get those ladders out.
The Christmas season can become a blur of activity sometimes. Last Sunday I hurried home after the last morning service at Calvary, ate lunch fast and came back to church for the delightful Advent Festival. When I got home later that night, I realized I had actually put the ketchup bottle in the freezer! Yikes! I guess my mind just had too many things to “prepare” for that day. Can any of you relate?
As we journey ever closer to Bethlehem and the birth of our Lord, amidst the frantic chaos of family, work and church obligations, I pray that you will all be able to come before the manger and take time to see and experience the miracle -- to really see Jesus.
As I mentioned at the Women’s Christmas Dessert on Monday night, if you look at the Baby Jesus in the manger in the Sanctuary, you will see that His arms are outstretched. He is reaching out to YOU! It’s always fun to watch the children come up to Jesus in the manger. With eager anticipation and excitement, they try to boost themselves up to “peer in” and “sneak a peek” at Jesus. As adults, sometimes we just look at Jesus from afar. We notice the beautiful Italian Fontanini statues of the Nativity in the Sanctuary, but we miss really seeing Jesus. We miss the miracle of Christmas -- a miracle that changed the world and our lives forever.
This Advent, why not come before the manger with the heart of a child, full of anticipation and wonderment. Go ahead, “sneak a peek” at the Baby Jesus. He’s waiting!
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:22-23
Listen to Chris Tomlin’s song, “Emmanuel,” and let the miracle of Jesus’ birth touch you today.
To His Glory!
Pastor Carol
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