Happy Advent to you all, and Merry Christmas. We have made it to an entire new year of the liturgical calendar. For worship purposes, Advent is the start of the new year, with a new beginning as we welcome the birth of Jesus into our worlds. As we approach Christmas and all the events and preparation in our church and our families, I want to encourage you to think a little about the role gift-giving plays this year and in our faith.
I expect some stress as we all try to find the right gifts for our special people. I am sure we will also take great joy in our gifts to the church and the people our church serves through Giving Tuesday, Mount Airy Net, and the families we sponsor for the holidays. But I want us to think about how the concept of gift-giving is at the heart of Christmas and our faith.
I am going out on a limb and suggesting that gift-giving and Grace have a spiritual connec-tion. Theologically, Grace is the unmerited favor given by God. We can use the word for the favor; we might also show other people Grace, but from the church perspective, we usually talk about God. Gift-giving is also an unmerited demonstration of favor.
As we practice our gift-giving and gift-receiving this year, remember that we have also re-ceived a gift from God in the form of Jesus. It might help us to take the stress out of gift-giving and receiving this year if we learn to see all good gifts as acts of love and Grace re-ceiving. So, if you don't give or receive the perfect gift this year, think about how a gift is not an obligation but an act of favor and love.
I hope to see you all soon as we celebrate God's gift, Emanuel, this season.
We have several opportunities to gather this year. The cantata will be happening the Sunday before Christmas, and we will have a family service on Christmas Eve, followed by our candlelight service.
We also have an Open House and Children's Cooking Class soon. Not to mention, I will be hosting an advent bible study on Zoom. I look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events and wish you all a grace-filled Advent and a joyful Christmas.
James 1:17-18 NIV
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
Pastor Josh
