I have made a commitment to not skip Thanksgiving. Even though many stores already have Christmas decorations up, I will try my best to focus on giving thanks. I do not want to skip right over Thanksgiving. Now, come the Friday after Thanksgiving… “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” It’s on.
I have already started planning this year’s “Advent Celebration.” Don’t let naysayers or anyone else rob you of this meaningful time of worship. While some Baptist did not grow up observing the Advent season, we have made some of its rich traditions ours. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus.” It means arrival or coming. In this case, it refers to the arrival and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas day. This year that will be December 2.
In a season of rush and an often embarrassing commercialization of Christmas, what a great idea to have moments of reflection. The Advent season is a call to Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. It is our privilege to call our church family and friends to remember the true meaning of the coming of Christ. What a wonderful opportunity to worship and to teach the greatest story ever told. We use Advent to teach the Word of God and the Mission of God; to help families find balance in a hectic season; to encourage giving to the poor and to others with a generous and thankful heart. The Light of the World came…it is worthy of celebrating with the Word, with candles, with prayers, with gifts, and with whatever Christmas trappings can help us celebrate His advent.
Our family joyfully celebrates the Christmas season. We build our celebration on the traditions of Christmas from the Word of God, from believers through the centuries as well as our own family traditions. We have created some traditions built on the personal joy of what God has done for us in sending his Son as our Savior. It has led us to give to others because God gave to us. We sing and listen to great Christmas music because our hearts are filled with joy. We light Christmas Lights celebrating Jesus as the Light of the World.
As the Under-Shepherd of this church family, I will lead you to do the same. A friend of mine told me that we should not use pink candles in the advent service. His reasoning was that over a thousand years ago, some pope used a pink candle in some insidious way. My response…we will not let that pope light our candle! Pink was God’s color long before it was the color of choice of some misguided person. Don’t get distracted by those who take joy on raining on your Christmas parade. March on; stay faithful to God’s Word; give thanks and be joyful; give to those in need…but don’t forget Thanksgiving!
See you Sunday, Lord willing!
Pastor Tom
