“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”   (1Cor 1:3)

 As we continue our journey through Advent, we wait, we watch, we long, and we prepare for the coming of Christ in our   lives.  A celebration of the day that love came down to dwell among us.    We look for the love that is present among us still during our Advent waiting, watching, and preparing.  We keep our hearts open to the Love of Christ in our own lives through prayer, devotions, worship, and those special quiet moments amidst the busyness and chaos of the secular world this time of year.  But we also open our hearts to let that love of Christ flow out from us to others, as we greet one another with a genuine smile and wishes for a Blessed Christmas. We help others in need, sharing what we are able so that all know the joy of the season.  And most of all we worship together the love that came down on the first Christmas night in Bethlehem and still flows down from above for all of God’s creation!   While many find joy during this time of year, there are so many who do not.  The season can bring grief, sorrow, anger, pain and so many more emotions for a variety of reasons.  Let us be aware of those around us who are challenged by this time of year and greet them with understanding, compassion and love.  For the love that came down came not just for the joyous, but Christ Jesus comes even more for those who desperately need to know God’s love for them!    My wish for this Christmas is that we all experience the splendor of the love which came down in a fresh and transformative way throughout this season and the coming year!    

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16  

As we move toward the coming of the Christ child, may we share the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love with everyone we encounter.  

Blessings,

Pastor Karla