Pastor’s Letter from Rev. Ann Marie for December 2020
Dear Family and Friends of First Presbyterian Church,
On November 29th we enter the season of Advent in the church. This year as we with most everything else in 2020 it seems, life this holiday will be a bit different. We have made the decision NOT to have in-person worship on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29 but will still live stream a worship service at 9:30 that morning. This will also be posted to YouTube later in the day. We are taking a week’s break as a “buffer week” right after Thanksgiving just to be on the cautious side with the possibility of families gathering for a Thanksgiving Feast and cases spiking. The Task Force will meet again on Wednesday, December 2 to determine whether we return to in-person worship for the remainder of Advent or if we just continue to record. In the church, the season of Advent is a time to provide a space for God’s Spirit to be heard. “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given…” we sing. A wondrous gift is ours and I hope that we don’t lose sight of that during these pandemic days. Advent and Christmas might end up looking very different this year, but it doesn’t mean that the joy of Christ’s coming has to be diminished in our lives. So let’s take time to enjoy and celebrate it, even if we have to get creative and think creatively about how we can mark these holy days.
In her book, Kneeling In Bethlehem, Ann Weems shares this poem/Prayer that has become very meaningful to me during this pandemic year, working and planning for Advent and Christmas.
In December Darkness The whole world waits in December darkness For a glimpse of the Light of God. Even those who snarl, “Humbug!” And chase away the carolers Have been seen looking toward the skies. The one who declared he never would forgive has forgiven, And those who left home have returned, And even wars are halted, if briefly as the whole world looks starward. In the December darkness we peer from our windows Watching for an angel with rainbow wings To announce the Hope of the World!
My prayer is that we, as individuals and as a community of faith, will keep Advent this year. To help facilitate that I have made some Advent devotion packets with a luminaria bag, and an LED candle. The idea is that each week you will light your candle, read your devotion and then put your light in a window or on a front porch for the evening to shine the Light into the darkness. I will be handing these out in worship on the 22nd but if you would like one and are not comfortable coming to in-person worship, you can stop by the church office on Monday or Tuesday, the 23rd or 24th to pick one up. One per household lease. May we be surprised by the hush of the Messiah’s coming! May we help shine His light into the world as we consider our relationship with a God who loves us enough to become human like us, a God who is as close to us as we will allow.