Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you (all) a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).” Isaiah 7:13-14
Dear HBIC Family,
This Advent Season, we have been invited to join together with followers of Jesus near and far to wait with expectation and then celebrate the coming of Jesus. We have been reminded that heaven always comes down, God desires to dwell among us, and someday soon, Jesus will return as King. Advent teaches us that Jesus has come in the flesh, the Spirit lives in and among those who believe, and in the end…God’s kingdom will come.
We have walked through Advent seeking to encounter Emmanuel through the eyes of some familiar characters in Jesus’ birth story. We learned from the prophets that we can trust God now because of what God has done, and because God’s promises for the future will come true. We learned from the angels that the message of God to us is peace that makes all things right. We learned from the shepherds that joy comes from being with and worshipping Jesus. We have learned from the Magi that love is the reason God meets us and is with us, and the way God welcomes all of us back home.
We have revisited Jesus’ story through these characters who have helped to teach us about the hope, peace, joy, and love that God gifts us. We have seen together how every part of God’s plan was intentional implementation, not simple coincidence. We have sat together and alone, thinking on how God with us inspires us to share the same hope, peace, joy, and love that we have received after we have “encountered Emmanuel.”
We have come far, but there’s still some ways to go. To end this Advent season, we will be gathering for some special worship services, and we would love for you to join us. On Saturday, we will have our Christmas Eve Services at 4:30pm and 6:00pm. And on Sunday, Christmas Day, we will have one special reflection service together at 9:00am.
As you prepare for this week’s services, I invite you to read and meditate on the following passages: Isaiah 7:13-14, Matthew 2:1-12, and Luke 2:1-20. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
- What is one way that God has been faithful to you in the past?
- What is one promise of God that you hold on to?
- How do you receive the peace of God? How are you sharing it?
- How are you celebrating God’s blessings in this season?
- How do you experience God’s love? How are you sharing it?
Every Christmas, our family (like yours, I’m sure) has things that we do and traditions that we love to share. Our celebrations include spending time together, eating lots of delicious food, telling stories, laughing – yes, lots of laughter – and having our spirits refreshed as we give thanks for who God is and all that God has done for us. I pray that this season reminds you that God is with us. I pray that you feel and experience God’s hope, peace, joy, and love. I pray that you and your loved ones know and hold on to our God who always welcomes us home.
May God’s hope be found in what God has done and will do. May God’s peace be on your lips. May God’s joy live in your hearts. And may God’s love be known to all, through you.
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Isaiah 7:13-14)