First Sunday of Advent

[cbtreks]

I managed to get myself dressed and out the door this morning and visited a church. Today marks the beginning of the church year, so a good day to go. I went to a local UCC (United Church of Christ) where the minister is a woman and a good friend of my middle sister's and has become a friend of mine. I went to her church when she was in Bremen and when she came up to Mishawaka, I visited a couple of times. The last time, the visitor's committee or whover does those things, sent me a postcard to say thanks for visiting and made a point of noting that my friend was only the interim minister, which I didn't think was very appropriate to mention to a guest. I figured I wouldn't keep going there since it didn't make sense to choose a church because you liked the pastor, knowing full well that you'll probably quit attending once he or she has moved on. However, when I mentioned that to my sister a couple of weeks ago, she pointed out that Susan would like having me there as long as she is the pastor there, which got me to thinking about the fact that we don't go to church simply for our own edification. Besides which, I keep telling myself I'm going to start visiting around but I never do - so I think I'll keep going back to this small church, at least until things change there.

So today we mark the beginning of the holiday season (Black Friday notwithstanding!). I've started shopping, we have a tree (artificial that someone gave us), no one will look at me funny if I sing Christmas songs now, and I'm thinking I might even be in the mood to bake this year. None of which is really important in light of why we have Christmas Sometimes it was easier to get into the Christmas spirit the years that I didn't have a tree or other trappings. Which doesn't mean at all that I don't like them - I love them! I love driving down the road and looking through people's windows and seeing their trees lit up inside their houses, seeing all the decorations outside, on the lampposts and buildings, hearing Christmas songs. Still, I guess each year I feel I need a reminder to slow down a little and remember why we have Christmas at all. (I know we have a lot of Yule/Solstice traditions woven into our Christmas celebrations as well. Considering how much I dislike the short days of winter - odd, really, since I like the rest of winter quite a bit - I'm all for a big, welcome-back-the-sun Solstice celebration, too.)

"What great hope we have for God has loved us." (Pastor Susan)