Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ –

            Are your ready to read the most strangest greeting by far from me?  Here it is:

 H A P P Y    N E W     Y E A R!!!!!

             No, I am not jumping ahead on the calendar, or practicing for the new year.  Instead, I’m wishing you a Happy New Year! 

            On Sunday, November 20^th, the church observed that day as Christ the King.  The purpose of this Sunday is twofold.  First, Christ the King Sunday recognizes the end of the church year.  Church years differ from calendar years in that church years celebrate, observe, and remember the life of Christ.  These celebrations, observances, and remembrances usually follow a Gospel reading from one of the four Gospels.  This past year, our Gospel readings came from Matthew – a Gospel initially written to a community struggling with its identity, its purpose, and even what it believed.   

            As we move into a new church year, we move also into the Gospel of Mark.  While Mark is shorter than Matthew, both Matthew and Luke have borrowed extensively from Mark.  Many scholars think and believe Mark was the first Gospel written, and written to a community a) that needed reminded of the instruction it had received, and b) was facing intense persecution. 

            The second reason for Christ the King Sunday is to celebrate, declare, and proclaim God’s glory, might, and power: past, present, and future.  We remember what God has done in the past, what God is doing in the present, and we wait in hope what God will do in the future.  It is a day we join the cry of the church and declare, “Amen, Come Lord Jesus!” 

            Both this cry, and this day lead into a new church year, and a new season of the church.  Like the calendar year, the church year begins anew.  In that newness, the church also waits with hope and expectation for the One who is to come.   

            As we begin a new season of Advent, we are invited to pause, to reflect, to worship. During this season, there are a few new opportunities for worship.  One, Advent Evening Prayer will be prayed on Sunday evenings throughout Advent.  This new service, done with Ascension and St. Michael’s is a chance for us to come together, to pray, to sing, and to prepare our hearts for Christ’s birth.  It is a chance to take a break from the busyness of the season and to focus on what is truly important. 

            Two, we will be using a new setting of Holy Communion for the 10:30 service.  While the words will be the same, the melodies, the rhythms, and the tunes will be different.  Singing something new can be a challenge.  Yet at the same time, learning a new setting can help us grow in our faith, our relationship with God, and our relationship with one another.   

            Advent is more than “the four weeks before Christmas”.  It is more than baking, cooking, cleaning, and shopping.  Rather, it is a time of waiting, watching, and, from Mark’s perspective: Keep awake! 

            In these days of Advent, may we keep awake, that in keeping awake, we may be ready for Christ to come!

  Blessings and grace,

 +Pr. Traci