From the Desk of Pastor Ken...

Christmas is coming, but Advent first!

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:14a)

“She gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger.” (Luke 2: 7a)

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea….” (Matthew 2:1a)

“Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the world began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.” (Hymn, Of the Father’s Love Begotten -- # 295, ELW)

It is a profound mystery, and a season of great wonder, comfort, and joy. Christmas is a time of wonderful affirmation that God keeps promises, that God’s love for the creation is beyond measure, and Christ has come to be both Savior and brother. Surely, there is no other season filled with such joyous, beautiful, memorable music.

But we are not there yet. The Lutheran Church has many treasures, including history and liturgy and continuity with the church of all centuries past. In the wisdom of the church, a calendar was developed including seasons and rhythms connected to the life of Christ, the seasons of nature, and the life of faith

If you ask, “Why don’t we start singing Christmas carols and hymns now?” the answer is that we have other things to tend to before arriving at Christmas. Christmas is not just froth, not just the whipped cream atop your Starbucks designer coffee. An event so momentous asks things of us. Do you remember Jack Nicholson’s lines in A Few Good Men, “Do you want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” In a similar vein, the church asks, “Do you want God with us? Do you think you can handle God in your world and in your life?” In a recent Sunday reading, the prophet Amos asked, “Why do you desire the Day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light.”

Advent is a time to be serious about faith and life and our world; time to reflect on the world’s need and our longing for deliverance. Like a bride or a groom preparing for a wedding, our thoughts are a mixture of anticipation and preparation – and thoughts and questions concerning readiness. So in Advent we examine ourselves, and we reflect on the ways of God, and we get ready (again) to welcome our Lord and commit ourselves to him. Advent is delicious anticipation and serious preparation, followed by brief but intense celebration. Don’t fail to spend the time preparing. Don’t miss the exuberance of Christmas at LCH.

What else is coming? As Advent begins in 2008, The Gospel of Mark becomes the principal source of the Lectionary Gospel readings heard on Sunday mornings. Mark is distinctive in several ways. It is the earliest Gospel, the shortest Gospel, the only Gospel with no mention of Christmas, and the only Gospel having an Easter story with no appearances of the risen Christ. Yet, with all that, I will confess that it is my favorite. I hope, as the year progresses, you will grow in appreciation of this Gospel, and for the treasures of theology and resources for faith and life to be found within it. That little paragraph concerning Mark’s Gospel is also an opportunity to emphasize again the importance of “growing in grace and knowledge.” If even the boy Jesus needed to grow in wisdom (Luke 2:52), it may also be true of his followers. I am speaking, of course, about Adult Education – the weakest feature of LCH as of too many Lutheran congregations. Can we make “learning” one of our New Year’s resolutions? “Reflections” offers an excellent weekly opportunity to reflect on how faith impacts life – both personal life and life in our world. Along with that, I would like to see more opportunities to dig deeper into the Bible and Lutheran theology and church history. I see such “growth in grace and knowledge” as an indispensable aspect of church life for any congregation that desires to grow in both size and depth.

Kudos to youth & leaders: Highest praise goes to Mike & Shelle Ferraro, Tom & Kathy Schiola, and all who work with the youth group; to Tom, Jennifer, and Nick Aro for their work with confirmation; to the “Tag Team” now leading the Sr. Hi Sunday morning class, and to the Sunday School staff, including Terri Cooper & Deb Kazmierski who work with the Confirmation students on Sundays. Of course, none of that would be effective if not for the youth themselves. LCH is blessed to have young people of such numbers and such quality; and we – and they – are blessed by the investment they make in their groups, their relationships, and their faith exploration. (And, by the way, the November 15th auction/fund-raiser was better than words can describe.)

Pastor Ken Thurow