Pastor's Message
                                                                                           

DECEMBER SPIRIT STEPS

The temperatures have remained relatively mild so the grass is still bright green.  Some of the hardier flowers are still blooming but the days are clearly getting shorter.   I was up at 6:00 AM this morning and it was still dark outside; it is now 5:00PM and it is dark again.  Mild as it has been, there is no doubt that the darkness is a prelude to the icy temperatures that will soon be upon us.  The days will continue to get colder and shorter as we head to the longest night on December 21st.

Here in the northern hemisphere, the seasons serve as a metaphor for our Christian belief of the Light that has come into the world.  Just four days after the longest night we celebrate Christmas, “the Light shining in the darkness”.   While we celebrate the Light that has come into our dark world, we may see little evidence of that Light.  The lengthening of the days has begun yet in the beginning it is imperceptible.  In nature’s own time the days lengthen and the darkness shortens, and light will again become the dominate force.

So often it seems in our lives that the darkness is overwhelming, financial concerns, health problems, relationship issues, family issues etc. etc. etc. All seem to close in on us at times and we cannot see anything but darkness.  “This too shall pass” becomes a meaningless platitude that causes us to want to strike out in anger when we hear it.  It is at times like this we can take the lesson of nature and apply it to our faith.  It is the longest night that heralds the coming of the Light, imperceptible in the beginning but growing in its brightness and glory.

As we move through this season of Advent may we each use this time to prepare for the coming of the light into our hearts and into our lives and may you have a joyous and blessed Christmas.

In peace and light,

Pastor Bob