O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within my breast.
To do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.
Paul Gerhardt, 1653

O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright? is the central question of the season of Advent. Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation. Though we tend to focus on looking forward to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, Advent has historically been a time in which the church is called to remember the awesome reality of our Lord’s triumphant return.

We are all familiar with the account of Jesus’ birth. The very Word of God, come in humility, born in obscurity to bring us God’s salvation is a reality that fills his people with joy. But the truth is that this same Jesus is going to return — not in obscurity, but visibly and publicly… not in humility, but with great exaltation and glory…. not only to bring the fulfillment of salvation to his people, but to judge a world which chooses to reject him. The New Testament calls God’s people to watch, to be ready … for we do not know when our Lord will return.

Advent is a season which points to hope. The child who was born in Bethlehem has brought the hope of salvation and everlasting life. Through the coming of our Lord we have a holy joy, a hopeful assurance about God’s presence in our lives and in our world. But this hope should also express itself in a desire for the day when Christ will come again for us in glory.

This sense of hope and expectation is well expressed in this passage from the Advent litany of the Moravian Church:
Lord, for Thy coming us prepare;
May we, to meet Thee without fear,
At all times ready be:
In faith and love preserve us sound;
O let us night and day be found
Waiting with joy to welcome Thee.

Christ has come and prepares us for his coming. May this sense of Advent hope shape our hearts and lives, not only in this season, but throughout the year.

Grace and Peace,
Steve

ADVENT / CHRISTMAS 2019
THE ONE WE WELCOME

Sunday, December 1
ADVENT 1
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: THE ONE WE WELCOME: A FAITHFUL WITNESS
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Sunday, December 8
ADVENT 2
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: THE ONE WE WELCOME: OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – ADVENT PRAYER JOURNEY

Sunday, December 15
ADVENT 3
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: THE ONE WE WELCOME: THE RIGHTEOUS KING

Sunday, December 22
ADVENT 4
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: THE ONE WE WELCOME: A GOOD SHEPHERD
Living Nativity

Tuesday, December 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
7:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service: “THE WHOLE STORY OF CHRISTMAS”
A service celebrating God’s plan of grace through music and readings.

Sunday, December 29
First Sunday of Christmas
No Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship

Tuesday, December 31
NEW YEAR’S EVE
7:00 p.m. – Evening Worship: Holy Communion