Dear Friends,

     Most people I know look forward to hearing and singing Christmas carols at this time of year.   They are full of joy and a dancing spirit.   In fact, in Europe, many years ago, people danced to Christmas carols.  Perhaps to some people the sound of Christmas carols means shopping malls and presents, but to those of us who follow Jesus, they are full of hope, love and joy.

    My favorite Christmas carol to sing is probably “Angels We Have Heard on High,” simply because it’s so much fun to sing all those ‘glorias’ in the chorus.  But as for the words, I think my favorite carol is “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”  I find them packed with truth, but I’m especially fond of verse 4, which begins, “O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.”

    Advent is a time we often think of as “getting ready for Christmas.”  But it’s really about getting ready for the coming of Christ. That birth happened over 2000 years ago, so the birth we are really preparing for at this season is the new birth that can happen in each one of us. A question I like to ask myself during Advent is, “Where is Christ trying to be born in my life?”  Perhaps that’s a question you could ask over the next few weeks, between the decorating and the shopping

    Maybe Christ needs to be born in your heart.  Maybe you need to claim his power to bring hope, joy, compassion, forgiveness or love into your life. If any of those seem to be absent in your heart, what better time of year than to ask for them as a gift from God? According to the Apostle Paul, as translated by J. B Phillips, “The Christ you have to deal with is not a weak person outside of you, but a tremendous power inside you.”

    Maybe Christ is trying to be born in the world around you and needs you to be the midwife.   The world is crying out for the healing and hope that Christ can bring.  As you look around your neighborhood, your workplace or the community, where does Christ need to be born? And how can you help?

     One of the things that I love most about this congregation is the way we sing together on Sunday morning.  I’m really looking forward to singing carols with you this season.  But most of all, I’m looking forward to the ways that the Christ Child can be born among us, in this place and in this time. 

See you Sunday!

Pastor Pam

      MERRY CHRISTMAS!