December 2009

“The Advent of Love”

It's hard to believe that we are at the beginning of the Advent season. I love this time of year because of the special nature of every day. Each one building the anticipation of the coming of the Christ child. The music, the decorations, the wonderful story of God's love fill each day with the wonder of Christmas. It's in that spirit of giving that we take on the theme of "The Advent of Love" for this year's theme.

During the month of December and January I have a goal of connecting the congregation and community with God and with each other. Jesus simplified all the commandments in Mark 12:30-31, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."

As we seek to love God more fully, we will consider our relationship to him. During Advent, I am going to be preaching about people that God used to bring his Son, Jesus Christ to the world.

How they answered the call in obedience. During January we will start the year centering on the theme "What we Believe!"

In this pluralist society it is important to have a firm foundation, so we are not "tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." (Eph. 4:14) It will challenge us to keep true to the Biblical teachings about God, the Father, God, the Son, God, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible.

In considering our "Love of Neighbor", we are going to do our best to get our congregation and community together. It is my hope over the next two months that everyone will either be a host or be invited into our homes. As we care for each other and reach out, we want to invite all to a time of simple hospitality.

During these months we want to connect families that only come on Wednesday nights with those who only come on Sundays. We want to reconnect with brothers and sisters in Christ. We want to welcome folks into our homes who are not connected at all to any family of God.

As we celebrate the coming of the Christ Child please commit yourself to participating in the Advent of Love. You can be a host home by contacting the church office or signing up at the welcome center. May God reaching bless you this Advent season.

Pastor Craig