Advent letters–finale

Tomorrow, December 22, is the final day of Advent. On Christmas Eve, the season transitions into Christmas (aka Christmastide) and eventually into Epiphany. But first, today, December 21, is the winter solstice. The shortest day, and thus the longest night. As you can read in the following letter, I hope you’ll consider worshiping with us on this longest night. It is a time when we bring our questions, our sorrows, and our hurts. As we lament together, we remember those we have loved and lost. Yet, we also seek peace as we recognize that God’s beauty and love shine in the dark. We recognize that darkness is holy too, as we hold each other in love this night.

Dear found family of Minooka UMC,

It is well known that I am bad at math, but even I can count the days well enough to realize this is our last newsletter before Christmas. I’m sure many of you are, like my family, feeling the pressure of seemingly innumerable expectations this holiday season. So allow me just a moment to offer some reassurances. 

First and foremost, Christmas is the celebration of Incarnation—God present to us and with us in Jesus, Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace. “The very fabric of our existence is where God arrives,” as Dr. Tripp Fuller puts it. Thus, contrary to a few loud cultural voices, the world matters and our bodies matter because physical reality is precisely where God shows up at Christmas. 

So, please, breathe. Just…breathe for a moment. It is incredible the difference even two or three slow, deep breaths can make in our body, mind, and spirit. Consider trying this breath prayer from our Advent Devotional: Inhale: Lead me, O God. Exhale: My hope is in you. 

Some times and in some situations, the best we can do is fake it ’til we make it through. Our Longest Night worship experience is the exact opposite of that. It is an opportunity to allow yourself to be honest about whatever you are feeling—especially feelings of sadness, hurt, or loneliness that seem so unwelcome in this holly, jolly season of cheer. But you don’t have to be grieving a loss for this worship service to be meaningful. Maybe you are just down from missing the light of the sun. Maybe you just want to be bathed in the dark beauty of our sanctuary at night. Whatever your motivation, I hope to see you at our Longest Night service—actually on the winter solstice, tonight, Saturday, December 21st at 6:00pm. This service will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page.

We’ve dedicated a lot of time this year to considering what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Helping neighbors meet their basic food needs is the very essence of living our faith in Jesus. That’s why I invite you to participate in our Christmas Offering: a tithe (the first 10%) of the Christmas Offering will go to our partners at Helping Hands Food Pantry of Minooka. Use one of the Christmas Offering envelopes or simply note “Christmas offering” on your check. 

Worship with us on Christmas Eve at 4:00pm or 9:00pm. At both services, there will be many familiar carols, the greatest story ever told, beautiful candlelight, and “Love Knows Your Name”, a message that both inspires and challenges us. At 4:00pm as we welcome our friends from Channahon UMC for an experience designed with children and families in mind. At 9:00pm we add even more special music and celebrate communion. These worship experiences will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page.

As for this final Sunday of Advent, the Gospel According to Luke takes us back into the room where it happened: Elizabeth and Mary plot the end of empire and put their hopes and dreams for a better world into one of the all time great punk rock songs.  What keeps us from hearing this anthem for the absolute banger it is? How might we free Mary from the domesticated, tranquil version of her that we’ve constructed in the last few decades? Most importantly, how might we join her song and bring it to life? 

That’s what we’ll explore in my sermon, “Hope is Worth the Risk.” Whether in person or online, all are welcome.