(Belated) Weekly Pastoral

Dec 21, 2022

I hope this finds you well and warm. My postings as of late have been sporadic, so thanks for your grace and mercy. But what can I say - it’s a busy time of year in the church world. And with seminary, paperwork, family stuff, farting around, decking the halls, watching Home Alone (again), etc… Wowza. It’s a lot. I’m sure you’re feeling the holiday spin cycle too.

I missed the weekly pastoral over the weekend, so I figured, what the hay? I might as well just send one out here in the midweek. I don’t think you’ll mind. So here you have it.

Sunday was the fourth Sunday of Advent. We’re in the final stretch before Christmas! But hold your horses, Advent is not over.

One thing that’s so true about Advent is that it’s about Jesus (another drumroll, please)… COMING BACK!! I know what this elicits in the modern ‘Merican mind… You’d better watch out. You’d better not cry. You’d better WATCH OUT. I’m telling you why. JESUS CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN.

I hope to impart this to you today… Jesus is not Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a tyrant (albeit a jolly one) compared to our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A lot of very popular books have been written and a lot of communes have been packed by those who are trying to escape the rapture. But here’s the thing…

When Jesus comes back, you have absolutely nothing to fear.

He has absorbed all of your Sin and has given you life everlasting. And you didn’t have to do a thing! He has reconciled not just you and me, but the entire creation! Every atom, every quark, every seen and unseen thing has been, is being, and will be redeemed. This is true now and will be fulfilled when he comes again. So rejoice!

As the song goes, His law is love and his gospel is peace. So this is a celebration. The whole ‘getting ready’ theme of Advent sounds daunting, but see it with the excitement of a child getting ready for Christmas morning (unless this triggers nothing but dread, which, in that case, scrap this illustration). It’s a beautiful thing, really, and you have nothing to fear.

Fourth Sunday of Advent candle blessing

This week, we light the 4th candle on ye olde Advent wreath! Here’s a prayer you can say as you light it…

God of all that is good, source of all joy, we praise you for the gladness that comes to us in your promise. We celebrate the holy disruption that dismantles sin and brings new life and new beginnings. Holy God, in whom all creation delights, receive our thanks and joy as an offering. Move within us and use us to reflect hope into the world, and to carry good tidings of great joy to every place we go. In the name of the Holy One who was, is, and is to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Week

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings of the Week

In this week’s readings, Isaiah prophesies that a young woman will bear a son and name him Emmanuel. The gospel is Matthew’s account of the annunciation and birth of the one named Emmanuel, God-with-us. During these final days of Advent we pray, “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” a beloved hymn based on the O Antiphons, ancient prayers appointed for the seven days preceding Christmas. On this final Sunday of Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth of the one born to save us from the power of sin and death.

First reading
- Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm
- Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Second reading
- Romans 1:1-7
Gospel
- Matthew 1:18-25

Weekly Grab Bag of Miscellany

If you care to geek out and follow along with me this year, I’ll be sharing a lot about the Celtic Christian seasons and feast days. This book is leading the way. It describes the seasons of the Celtic year, Celtic holy sites and religious festivals, and the traditional prayers and blessings of the Celtic Church. Looking forward to this!!