At this month’s Church Board meeting, Terry led our devotional time with a beautiful message on having joy in our Lord! Certainly, Jesus is the center of my joy and for many of us the Christmas season with all its festivities celebrating the birth of Christ is absolutely a time of immense joy.
In his letter to the church at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Alas, it is not always easy to be joyful in all circumstances, is it? And when the sorrow of our losses, our pain, and fears stand against a backdrop of the tinsel, glitter, and lights of the Christmas season we may find it even more difficult to connect with the reason for the season, the source of our joy, our Lord.
If you are not familiar with the idea of a “Longest Night” or “Blue Christmas” service, it is a service usually held around December 21, which is the longest night of the year. The service we will have at Faith will be on December 20th from 6-6:30 PM and will consist of music, prayer, and Scripture. It helps us as we approach that longest night to remind ourselves that Christ’s Light is ever present with us, and the darkness cannot hide it. We remember that Jesus is the reason for this season of Christmas and is the center of our Joy. May we each day rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances.
Advent Blessings,
Pastor Peggy