The last Sunday in November is the first Sunday of Advent, beginning the new church
year. Happy New Year! There are three years in the cycle of readings for each Sunday:
A, B and C. We have just finished Year C, which was the year of Luke’s gospel. Now we
are back to the beginning and Year A and Matthew’s gospel. Year B is Mark. John’s
gospel is sprinkled into each year at various times.
Advent is one of my favorite times of the year with its play of light and dark, with all its
many symbols and meanings. We prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming, both as the babe in Bethlehem and as our coming King in glory. This time calls us to slow down and make time for Christ in our lives.
As Madeleine L’Engle wrote concerning this time of year:
The days are growing noticeably shorter; the nights are longer, deeper, colder.
Today the sun did not rise as high in the sky as it did yesterday. Tomorrow it
will be still lower. At the winter solstice the sun will go below the horizon,
below the dark. The sun does die. And then, to our amazement, the Son will
rise again.
I’d like to close with some of the words to the piece the choir sang this past Sunday, the
first Sunday of Advent:
In the quiet of the night,
Or in morning's early light,
Is your heart prepared for a King?
Will you hear an angel sing?
Will your own hosannas ring?
Is your heart prepared for a King?
Can you see the shining star?
Does it call you from afar?
Is your heart prepared for a King?
Will you watch? Will you pray?
Is the babe of whom we sing
Born to be our God and King?
Is your heart prepared for a King?
Robert Lau
May it be so in our lives.
In Christ’s abundant love,
Pastor Ivy
Pastor's Message
December 2022
