9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. – Luke 2:9-11
Merry Christmas!
I love the Christmas season. It’s filled with wonder unlike any other time of the year. Decorations come out of their boxes to adorn our homes for just this one month. Spirits soar as people get into the Christmas mood and dash away all of those “bah humbug” moments. Special food and drink come out of the woodwork. Peppermint sticks, gingerbread, and more turkey than you can shake a stick at! All of it adding to the moment we wait for all year long – the birth of Jesus.
Advent is about waiting. We wait for Christmas morning to celebrate the birth of Christ. But we also wait in eager anticipation of the return of Christ as he promised us so long ago, much like our Israeli ancestors waited for the arrival of the Messiah. We busy ourselves with gift-giving, present-wrapping, potlucks, and singing Christmas songs until that day arrives.
Except this year.
This year will be different. There will still be dinners and gifts and yes, even singing, but it will look and feel different. And that’s alright. We will be tested this year as never before. We yearn to gather. We ache to be together in person. We want to shake hands, give hugs, and shout “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” at the top of lungs with one another! But can you wait? Can you show the kind of perseverance that the people of Israel had to have when they marched through the desert for 40 years? Can you hold on to hope and promise just a little while longer until that day when it’s safe to gather together again? That day is just around the corner, but it means patience. It means gaman that Japanese word for strength of fortitude through difficult times. Just a little bit more.
You’ll be tempted to gather with family and friends. But if we’re going to make it through together, we must be cautious. We must listen to the experts. We must trust in their wisdom gained from decades of experience. As tedious and tiring as it sounds, wear your mask. Keep socially distant. Wash your hands often. And if you’re with others, stay outside instead of inside as much as possible. The weather will get colder. The nights are coming quicker. And it might feel more lonely. But we can do this! A vaccine is here in record time – we just have to find a way to distribute it. And that will take patience. But we are the church and we can strengthen one another for the journey ahead. I know I will see you all soon in person. But until then…hold on.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Craig
Annual Mochi Fundraiser Cancelled
Wesley United Methodist Church will NOT hold its annual mochi fundraiser this year. Organizers thank us for our past support and hope to resume this event next year.
UMW Announcement
We regretfully announce that due to Covid-19 there will not be a Christmas Bazaar this year. Thank you for your support through the years and hope to see you next time!
Christmas Greetings
This festive service saves you time by sending a group Christmas card to each participant. If you would like to join in, please send $10 to BMUC with “Christmas Greeting” in the memo line by 12/6.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
You are all in my prayers. You always have been, but I think even more than before, I pray for you all and about you and your safety like never before. I’m especially praying for you all during this Christmas season that you will be safe, healthy, and happy. I hope this holiday season is filled with the blessings of family, friends, and loved ones even if from a distance. I will pray that all of us will be filled with the Holy Spirit now and always. And I am looking forward to seeing you all at our Christmas Eve worship this year. Like we said at Thanksgiving, if you have the means to give back to God through his church it is always appreciated, but more than anything, we just hope you’ll stay connected to your church family and let us celebrate together.
As you plan for the holiday season, I hope you’ll keep these dates in mind and come to as many as you can. We would love to see you!
- December 2nd @7:00pm – Our Annual Charge Conference is coming up. This year we will be celebrating our year with Rev. DS Staci Current who will lead our time together. Only members of the Council of Ministries will be taking part this year to facilitate a deeper and engaging conversation. However, everyone will receive a digital copy of the annual report (no printed copies this year folks) and we will summarize the results before the end of the year.
- December 17th @4pm – Sign up to join us for a virtual Christmas Cookie Decorating Class led by Jessica from locally owned Toadily Baked Cookies. You can purchase a cookie box with 6 cookies, icing, and decorations for $25 or you can bake your own cookies and join in. Either way, please sign up using the online form and let us know you’re coming! You can pick up your cookie boxes directly from Jessica or at the church 12/16 and 12/17 from 2pm-3pm.
- December 17th @7pm – Come and enjoy our Cookies and Carols event online! We’ll be singing Christmas songs together, enjoying our cookies, and having fellowship together. We may not be able to sing together, but we will still be singing…together! Just online. See you then! Just use our normal Sunday link and password to join.
- December 24th @7pm – Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship – THE event to bring family and friends, neighbors and naysayers! Together we will celebrate Immanuel – God With Us! We will share in the story of Christ, sing songs of praise and worship, and maybe have a few surprises for you all. Be there!
We hope to see you often during the Christmas season!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Peace in Christ,
Craig
