December 2019 Newsletter Message

We have a very busy December ahead of us, so I thought that I might use this space as a bit of a road map for our Advent and Christmas journey together. For Sunday morning worship this season, I decided to dust off an old idea called “Growing Advent” that I explored during my internship year in Pennsylvania. The idea is that Advent begins with a simplified and less musical form of worship and grows each week by adding back more of the music.

• First Sunday of Advent (Dec. 1st, Matthew 24:36-44) - We begin the church year with Jesus teaching about his return to reign over all. The world is oblivious to the transformational action God has in store with the second coming of Jesus, and people are “in the dark”; thus, our first Advent service opens the season with a sense of darkness.
  
• Second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 8th, Matthew 3:1-12) - John the Baptist bursts onto the scene, preaching a fiery message of repentance that calls our faith to a sense of urgency. For John, there is no time to waste as God prepares people’s hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus.
  
• Third Sunday of Advent (Dec. 15th, Matthew 11:2-11) - Followers of John the Baptist learn that Jesus is indeed the Messiah sent by God, and with that good news, the early darkness of our Advent worship moves toward the light of dawn! The Sunday School will help bring in this brighter time as they sing during the service.
  
• Fourth Sunday of Advent (Dec. 22nd, Matthew 1:18-25) - While Luke’s Gospel narrates the story of Jesus’ mother, Mary, this year’s reading from Matthew tells the story from the perspective of Joseph, Jesus’ (earthly) father. We rejoice that Jesus is Emmanuel (Hebrew for “God with us”), celebrating with a fully musical worship service that brings us right to the Christmas festival’s doorstep.
  
• Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols with Holy Communion (Tuesday, Dec. 24th @ 5:30pm) - We praise Christ in word and song, including music from our Choir, Kids’ Choir, and soloists. I am also excited to try my hand at the chanted version of the Communion liturgy that our bishop, John Roth, uses at synod assembly each year!
  

Besides our Sunday morning worship life in this rich season, we will also share in some powerful faith practices that build up our community. 

• A Rejoicing Spirits Christmas (Sunday, Dec. 15th @ 3:30pm) - Christmas comes a little early to this service of "Shush-Free Worship for Rejoicers of All Abilities!" Join in the fun of Rejoicing Spirits worship, and stick around afterward for a delicious (and free) Christmas dinner prepared by the Trinity Hospitality Team!
  
• Amid the Darkness Service (Saturday, Dec. 21st @ 6:00pm) - We are partnering with Duney’s Defense, a local drug overdose and addiction awareness organization, to present a “Blue Christmas” service that is specially geared toward families who are wrestling with the effects of substance use disorder during this holiday season, especially ones who are grieving the loss of loved ones who have died in their battle with addiction. Please join in this opportunity to share the love and hope of Christ with people who need it this season.
  

Peace to you and your family in this season, and I look forward to this Advent journey with you!