December 2021 Newsletter
Hello all!
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest of wines. Isaiah 25:6
Happy Advent all! We have entered the season of eating. Starting with Thanksgiving and ending with Christmas, we will likely overeat. We will likely overspend. We will likely stay up too late and go to many gatherings. We will likely try to make up for last year’s loss of traditions and celebrations. I feel like there will be LOTS this season: lots of food, lots of family, lots of gatherings, lots of presents.
Isaiah tells us that God will prepare for us a feast! Feasting on life is not a bad thing. We have moved through a year of famine: no big meals, no family gatherings, restaurants and venues closed. Now we want to feast. We will try to be safe, showing our vaccine cards, getting our boosters, wearing our masks, staying home if we feel sick. But we want to be together, we are hungry for it.
Each week when I see more people in the pews my heart is lifted. I understand it is still not 100% safe for all families to be together and I appreciate the fact that we have the option to live stream our services. It is very nice to hear that people are still watching. Worship is a discipline and a gift no matter how it is done. I know too that we will never be 100% safe, that has never been offered to us in any circumstance and it never will be.
I am hopeful this Christmas Eve that we will gather together (as best we can) for worship. I pray that COVID numbers go down and immunity goes up and we can be together for worship and fellowship again as we move into the new year. You may get a phone call or email in the next few weeks just checking in on you, connecting you with your church family. We, as a church, like the rest of the world, have been through a year of famine. It is time to feast. To be together. To see each other and be seen.
I appreciate greatly your prayers for the church and its leadership as we move toward the new year and the renewal of our worship life together. Trusting in God, we go toward the Mountain of God and the rich feast set before us!