December 2, 2016
Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:
'Tis the season of Advent, as we prepare for the coming of Christmas 2016. Advent is a word based on the Latin adventus, which simply means "coming" or "arrival." It is comprised of the four Sundays preceding Christmas day.
At our church, we observe Advent through the lighting of the Advent wreath candles on each of these Sunday mornings. There are two traditions concerning what the candles are meant to represent, and at MLEPC we use each one in alternating years. The older understanding gives us the Candle of Waiting/Prophecy, the Bethlehem Candle, the Shepherds Candle, and the Angels Candle. This combination gives us opportunity to walk through the narrative or the story of Christmas. God promised the Messiah in advance to be born in the City of David. This good news was first proclaimed to simple shepherds in their fields by the angelic host. As the shepherds ran to see the new born king, so we invite this king to be our Savior and Lord.
The second and newer tradition focuses on the great themes of Christmas season. We light the Candle of Hope, the Candle of Joy, the Candle of Peace, and the Candle of Love. For we find that in the coming of Jesus Christ we receive hope, joy, peace, and love all from the hand of our good, good Father in heaven. These are four of the great themes to the great story, and this Advent 2016, we are reflecting on them.
Allow me to remind us well in advance that this is an unusual year in that Christmas actually falls on a Sunday--Sunday, December 25. Please get on your calendar the opportunities to come and worship Jesus at His birth. On Saturday, December 24, we hold our annual family Christmas service at 5:00 p.m., followed with our traditional worship at 9:00 p.m. Please join us for these special candlelight celebrations. We then gather together again on Christmas Sunday morning at 11:15 a.m. for a service of carols and scriptures. We'll not hold a 9:00 a.m. service on Christmas morning in order to provide for early morning family time together at each of our homes. If, however, you are ready to come to church a bit earlier, the Fellowship Hall will be open at 10:30 a.m. with refreshments for any who wish to enjoy Christmas morning conversation before we worship. Please join us!
There are many, many great things going on at our church during this Advent season. For this week, I close by mentioning just one that is coming this Sunday afternoon. At 2:30 p.m., we shall hold our annual Christmas Cantata, conducted by our Music Director, Cindy Pratt, and accompanied by our Organist/Keyboardist, Pat Crosby. About 65 voices and over 30 instruments are featured in this worship celebration. It truly is a fine presentation and provides an excellent opportunity for us to bring family, friends, and neighbors to the church in order to hear the message of Christ and Christmas. Please plan to come and to bring others with you.
'Tis the season to rejoice in God's great love for us during Advent and Christmas. Let's all plan to take every opportunity to enter into the joyous season.
Pastor Tim
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