Blessings on this Friday before
Christmas!
How will you spend these last six days before Christmas? Many of us will
be frantically traveling from store to store or website to website to find that
special gift for a friend or family member. Some will be attending or hosting
parties, and record numbers of Americans, according to AAA, will be traveling
more than fifty miles to a destination over the holidays...99 million of us!
Makes me weary just thinking about it!
Every year there are calls from people like me to find peace in the midst
of the hurry, and purpose in the true meaning of the season. Those are worthy
aspirations in an often harried reality, but actually observing them can be
quite a challenge. Most of us are not going to stop participating in these and
other aspects of our Christmas traditions and celebrations, but while all of
this busyness is swirling around you, keep in mind that this is a season of
joy. In your shopping, consider the joy of giving. In your partying, give
thanks for good friends and valued coworkers. In your traveling, yes, even in
traffic on 95, consider the hard work of those who maintain the roads or the
airplane or train upon which you are traveling and the freedom you have to join
those 98,999,999 other people who are traveling with you. Most of all, consider
the immeasurable love of the Creator, who into this busy, warring, self-absorbed
world, entered our chaos to bring hope, peace, joy, and love through the gift of
Christmas, Jesus, the Christ. Keep that wonderful truth before you in all you
do and wherever you go over the next six-plus days.
Sunday morning's worship will feature our annual global missions
ingathering as well as special music by our handbell choir. You will find
special global missions offering envelopes in your packet and in the pews and
banks for the children are still available in the narthex. Our Christmas Eve
candlelight service will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday and will also feature
wonderful music and storytelling as we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I look forward to sharing these special services with you.
Jim Abernathy
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