Moving from Darkness Toward Light
(Posted November 30, 2018)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
--Isaiah 9:2
In this, nature’s darkest time of the year, we yearn for the return of light. In these often dark days of anger and hatred in the national discourse, we long for the return of caring people who speak and act out of love.
It’s natural then, at the beginning of this Advent season that starts on Sunday that our theme for the next four Sundays is Moving From the Darkness Toward the Light. We know theologically that Jesus, the Light of the world even as a baby in the manger, is coming. But what about the rest of the time in our church life until Christmas? Where do we look locally for the light in our own darkness?
Worship with Us
Services begin at 10 a.m. All are welcome.
Sunday's Service: Grateful for our first responders
This Sunday we will not only be “decking the halls” of our own sanctuary with our church family. We will also be honoring all the men and women who serve as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. THESE are the people who, in some of our darkest moments, bring the light of saving care to us. We never, ever have a chance to thank our first responders adequately, but this Sunday we honor them with a very special hymn commissioned for them, and invite them into our family to hang a special ornament on our tree. Truly they are already family in every sense of the word. And, lest we forget, we also honor the families of these first responders, who donate someone they love to serve the community and protect us. My next door neighbor is an EMT. I know how often, just at the beginning of family dinner, or on a relaxing Saturday afternoon at home, the fire horn goes off and I hear my neighbor’s car door slamming as he races off to answer the call. His sacrifice is also the family’s sacrifice.
So on Sunday our children will particularly enjoy church. We start off Sunday’s service with a Police Color Guard, and then the kids can help decorate the trees with members of police, fire and emergency medical services as well as our church members.
And on the Second Sunday of Advent – December 9, mark your calendars as we have a special Real Theology Sunday and guest speaker. Mayor Mark Boughton will join me in the pulpit to talk about his diagnosis a couple of years ago of a potentially life-threatening brain tumor, and how his faith helped him endure what followed. In our coffee hour I hope that we will be joined by a couple of our own church members who also know what it is to walk through the darkness while carrying the ember of faith as a light. Blessings and peace be to you all this Advent season. - Pastor Pat Kriss