Still in these first days of this new year we hear the words, “Merry Christmas” as the church celebrates the season of Christmas through January 6th with the feast of Epiphany celebrating the arrival of the Magi to greet the newborn king. It is an awfully full schedule for Mary and Joseph, for the Magi, for all of us. I wonder, “Have you had time to catch your breath?”

I am always hungry for the season of Advent to arrive. I enjoy the darkness, the candlelight, the quiet – when I can find it. Advent does not always cooperate. Even this year as Ileen and I completed much of our shopping earlier than usual, we still found ourselves engaged in the rhythms of preparation and celebration bringing us much joy and, well, pulling us in multiple directions.

As much as I commit to a “meeting-less” Advent, there are still more pieces to the church puzzle and the family puzzle and the life puzzle than usual. I think my heart and mind kind of expect Advent to be more intense – but still I try to carve out moments to light the candles of the Advent wreath and breathe prayers of hope, peace, joy, love into the lives of those I know are struggling in these long days of Advent – where the shadows can overwhelm. And before we know it, Christmas has come.

Even as I have counted down the days to Christmas, somehow, Christmas Eve arrives as if I have not been preparing at all. Still I try – to capture the moments of starlight in the night sky and angel song off in the distance. Even as I feel unprepared for Christmas Eve, or more to the point, pray for the night and the feeling to linger longer than it will – there will be a silent night that comes whether I am ready or not and it will last only as long as a night should last. And in the sunrise of Christmas Day, I will already find myself pondering what a year from now will bring when we gather, once again, to light candles to chase away the darkness. And with the arrival of the new year, we are greeted with the light of the season of Epiphany.

As much as Advent is the season of waiting, Epiphany is the season of light. From the shadows of Advent, we welcome the overwhelming light of God in the presence of a Savior sent to save the world. Epiphany provides each of us an opportunity to revel in the joy and presence of our God, come to be present with us.

What joy these words might offer to us. God comes to us. No longer a whispered prophecy. No longer a promised future. Now God comes to us – to live, to love, to laugh, to suffer, and to die. But for a season in this life, we dwell in the light of Christ. So enjoy the light dear friends. Christ is born. Emmanuel – God with us. And maybe, just maybe, each of us can find a moment to sit quietly awash in the light of Epiphany and rest, knowing that God is present with each of us – tending, healing, caring for us in ways we cannot imagine. Peace be with you.

See you in church.

Pastor Chris

Reprinted from the January 2020 newsletter.