December Greetings from Reverend Dale Walker
- Reverend Dale Walker
- Nov 30, 2009
- Series: GREETINGS!
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Greetings in the name of the Lord, to the Saints of Springwood!
Advent has two faces, two orientations: past and future.
Advent looks to the past—to the longing with which women and men of faith prayed for the coming of God’s Messiah; and to the fulfillment of their hope and their waiting, as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus, the Christ, was born into our human history in the fullness of time, for the salvation of the world. In Advent, then, we re-live the fear of the world’s darkness and turmoil, the hope of a Savior, and the joy that the Messiah has come.
Advent also looks to the future, as we wait and wonder what else God will do with us. For the congregation here at Springwood, that has meaning not only for the lives of individuals, but also for the future of the church itself. We wait, we wonder, we hope.
And, we look to the future, too, for the second Advent, when Christ—no longer a baby, nor a crucified Son of Man, but the risen Lord—will return and claim the world that is his.
During the four Sundays of Advent, the paraments in the pulpit and the stole worn by the pastor change from green to purple, indicating a season of penitence and preparation. Some of the lectionary readings for Advent are stark in their depiction of despair and need, yet they also express a hopeful anticipation—expectation, even—that God can and will save God’s people. Most of the hymns we sing during Advent will be related to the coming of Christ—the longing for Christ in our lives—and our spiritual preparation for Christ in our lives. I hope this will be a time of spiritual renewal for all of us!
The mood changes on December 24. The colors change again, from purple to white—reminding us that we are now celebrating Christ’s coming to redeem the world.
May Advent be a time of hope for you, as we reflect that, no matter how far we are from God, God in Jesus Christ comes within touching distance of us. As we prepare our homes with trees and gifts and special food, may we also prepare our hearts to be a place where the Messiah finds a welcome.
Grace and peace--Dale
