HomeOUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH
DECEMBER 2024
PASTOR PHIL’S RAMBLINGS
Happy New Year! Yes, we are at the beginning of a new year. December is the end of the calendar year, but it is also the beginning of the church year. Our church year begins on December 1st with Advent. The last Sunday of November, the 24th, was Christ the King Sunday, the culmination of a year of hearing the story of Jesus as told by Mark. Now, beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, we hear the story again. This year our focus will be primarily on Luke’s gospel account.
However, our year begins with the season of Advent, where we look forward, not to the birth of Jesus, but to his promised return in glory. For most of my life I always thought that Advent was about preparing for the birth of Jesus, but it is about preparing for something even more wonderful than that, the season of Advent is about being ready for Jesus’ return. From the day Jesus ascended into heaven we have looked forward with anxious expectation to his return in glory. I would remind you that of course, we do not know when that wonderful day will be. We do know that not only did Jesus encourage us, but all the New Testament writers also encouraged us to be ready for his return at any time.
Of course, it is only natural that we should also joyfully anticipate the celebration of his birth. I am looking forward to that celebration. I love Christmas. It is, as the song says, the most wonderful time of the year. As our northern hemisphere grows darker and colder, we have, in the midst of that, a most wonderful and joyous celebration, the celebration of our Savior’s birth. It is my heartfelt desire that you will be greatly blessed during this time. I look forward to worshiping with you and your whole family this month.
May God richly bless you.
