Greetings! Well, we successfully got our daughter married – a wonderful time, to be sure! And Thanksgiving has come and gone, although there are still a few leftovers in the fridge. Incidentally, if you were one of the many people who helped make the Thanksgiving meal for the community a success, whether through prayer, time, or talents – THANK YOU! That is truly one of my favorite things we do here at Resurrection, and it happens because of all of you!
With these events behind us, we can now focus on the season of Advent. Truly my favorite time of year, although it gets quite hectic at times. I can remember my very first Children’s Christmas pageant as the Director of Children’s Ministries. The year was 2008 – yes, 15 years ago! I was excited, but so very nervous. For those of you who remember John Mitchem, his favorite saying during this very busy season of the church was, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” And yes, there was definitely some sarcasm there.
The pageant went well – other than two children almost coming to blows over some jingle bells! It was after the pageant when we were all decorating and eating Christmas cookies, that the real excitement took place. There was a little boy who thought it would be funny to pull the fire alarm – so he did! The temps that day were well below zero, and since there was an eyewitness to the actual pulling of the alarm, the Fire Department did not require us to go outside. And, of course, there was my friend, John, reminding me that it was the most wonderful time of the year; needless to say, I will never forget that event!
The season is still busy, sometimes hectic, but definitely different. Now our children are all grown, some with children of their own. We gather and celebrate, and every moment is cherished. And all joking aside, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, because God came to earth, to live among us and teach us, that we may know who God is, and get a glimpse of the incredible love God has for each one of us.
I wish each one of you a joyous season of Advent and a truly merry Christmas. May you enjoy God’s blessings of faith, family, and friends!
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Julie