Living in Christmas Joy

What a whirlwind! The past few weeks were pretty busy at CLC. We gathered for worship, the youth had a month filled with activities and caroling, and there were a number of service projects. It sometimes felt a bit chaotic, but it was also a Spirit-filled season. I felt so blessed to see people sharing God's love and peace. I hope you were able to feel the joy of Christmas this year, and I hope you are still able to experience the Good News that God is with us.

Matthew 2:1-2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

There is a story in the Bible about mysterious travelers from the east who wanted to experience the joy of Christmas. For them, the story wasn't over after the baby was born. Today, when we are putting away all the decorations and feeling like the magic is over, God is still with us. The Spirit never leaves, even if we feel a little lost. One of my own kids had a bit of a meltdown on Christmas Day when he was going to bed. Perhaps he just had too much sugar, but he was also really upset the excitement was finally ending. We had to reassure him that although time moves on, we don't have to lose the magic. In the Bible, people were still looking for finding hope long after Jesus was born and even after Jesus died. The Good News is open to all the people who can keep an open heart.

Personally, there were times this season when I felt too busy to look for the signs of God's work. I had to prepare worship services, lead events, and try to keep my own house in working order. However, it was nice to take a few moments and stop and listen. My kids would ask about the story of Christmas. They wanted to know the meaning of the candles. They wanted to show me every toy and point out every light and siren. They were filled with joy this season, and they just wanted to share it with all the people in their lives. 

We all need to make room for the joy of Christmas. Some of us are too busy to really notice all the blessings of the season. Others are feeling pretty lonely this time of year, but I believe that God is sharing signs of hope with all of us. 

December 25 may be behind us, but Christmas is still here. God is still with us, and God's love is still changing lives. It is up to us to take the time to notice. Like the wise men who saw the star, we can also look for the signs of God in our lives. We can take time to wonder over all the good things God does.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

A candle for peace

This week didn't feel very peaceful in Las Vegas. There was another mass shooting, and I was heartbroken to learn that this wasn't even the first shooting of the week. The people of San Antonio and Austin were also recovering from their own acts of senseless violence. 

It sometimes feels pretty depressing to look at the state of the world. I met with the church's youth group on Wednesday night after the shooting. We talked about how to find hope, and we asked if it was realistic to pray for peace. To some of them, these horrifying moments feel almost normal. They even expect tragedy to show up in their lives. Everyday a new pain or evil makes the headlines, and it feels like there is no way to bring about change. 

It's true that we don't have all the answers. As a pastor, I wish I could offer so much more. However, we can all share a little bit of love today. We can still gather together. The youth group still took time to light candles and offer our prayers. We still found value in coming together to stand for the love of Jesus. Personally, this is what makes the church so important. We come back, time and again, with the hope of Christ. We do what we can to believe in peace, because we find the light of Jesus in our neighbors. Our world is filled with all kinds of fears and doubts. As Christians, we never bury our heads in the sand to the evil in the world, but I hope you can also find truth in God's words.

We follow a Savior who brings new life to the world. We follow a King who gave up everything for us so that we could find peace. This weekend we are going to light the second candle on the Advent wreath. This candle represents Peace. Although you may not feel very peaceful in our world today, this is a time for us to lift each other up. This is a time to share a little extra love and grace with the people in your life. Don't be afraid to show the love you have. Open your heart... God's light is shining!

Blessings!

Brian Ward