~ Important News! ~
"In-person" worship in the Sanctuary continues!
We also offer online worship each Sunday morning at 9am
via Zoom and Facebook Live.
ADVENT -- A Time of Waiting
As some of you may know I am blessed with two daughters. Both are exceptional young women, and both have much of which I delight in sharing, so ask me about them at some point. I will be glad to share of my love for them at great length. What I want to share with you at this time is the differences they each represent as the season of Advent came around. None of these differences are in some way incorrect, and neither one of these is to be lifted up above the other. They are just differences and they are both special.
One of my daughters is named Joy and she is what her name suggests. She is all about Joy, truly a Christmas Joy. For her the season of Advent represented a time of excitement, it was a season celebrated with much joy. And it was a season to “get through”; because for her, Christmas was on the other end. We had to be extra clever to hide her Christmas gifts if we wanted to have any chance of her being surprised on Christmas morning. At one point we even had to store them at a friend’s house until Christmas Eve. She loved to search for her gifts, and she was good at finding out what was coming. Joy liked the noise and the busyness of the Advent season. If there was a holiday party to attend, she would have us at it. A concert, and/or a Christmas solo to sing, or play her violin for folks; sign her up, she embraced it all. My other daughter, Lauren, loved the stillness of waiting. It was the anticipation, the actual waiting that made her happy. She would share with you today, I believe, that Christmas is sometimes a sad day because it will take another 365 days for it to be here again. She loved then and still loves today, the waiting of Advent. You could put Lauren’s gifts under the tree in week one of Advent and not worry a bit that she would seek them in any way. She would not even go shake them to see if they would make any noise. For her silence was and still is a sacred thing. A good book, a cup of tea, sitting by the tree and the fireplace brings her much peace. If we look up the definition of Advent in Webster’s dictionary, (I know ancient huh?), we will find; advent, small a; The coming or arrival, especially of something awaited or momentous. We would also find Advent, capital A; The birth of Christ. I cannot think of anything more waited for than the Advent of Christ coming into the world. In a very strange sort of way, maybe the whole of 2020 is having us come to a greater understanding of what waiting/advent is all about. The people of God had waited for thousands of years for the savior to come. Talk about a shot in the arm. Jesus’ birth brought hope to life then and still does this day. Please consider the season of Advent as a special time for us all. We will be offering an online Advent worship service each week with the Holden Vespers service being presented by our St. John’s youth. Yes, our St. John’s Youth. They will record the service and we will offer it online each Wednesday in Advent. I am excited to have these young people present this special service. I will offer a brief message each week around the theme of HOPE, leading us up to Christmas Eve services at 4:30pm and 9pm. Now remember, there is no wrong or right way to do Advent. I think Joy and/or Lauren are both beautiful, each in their own way. Advent Blessings to you all. ~Pastor Ken Gibson Pastoral Care
If you find yourself in need of pastoral care or you or a family member are hospitalized, please contact the church office and we will put you in touch with Pastor Ken Gibson. Remember that because of privacy laws, the hospitals do not contact us when you or a family member are admitted.
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"Virtual Worship"
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