Hope & Peace

We are just two weeks away from Christmas Eve by Candlelight! Despite the inconsistency in my verbal announcements, we will gather at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 24, for our annual tradition of singing songs, sharing the story, and lighting our candles. We’ll have carols, cocoa, cookies, cider, and candy canes, the 5 (or 6) Cs of Christmas celebrations. I hope you will join us.

The holiday season isn’t always filled with joy. I think the older we get, and the more loss we experience each year, adds melancholy to this time of year. As the longest, darkest night approaches, we gather to look for the light of Christmas. A Night of Hope is on Friday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. This is one of the most meaningful gatherings we do each year. If you think it would be helpful for you, please be sure to attend.

If you missed this week’s gathering, you can catch my reflection on YouTube. It was one of my shorter ones, and I hope it will benefit you. Peace feels elusive these days as war continues to happen in many places around the world.

As I’ve shared the last two Sundays, Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation. That waiting is not passive, but active, requiring something of us. Introspection, reflection, and discovery are a big part of the work we do within ourselves and our communities. If you’d like some of the Advent resources we have, please reply to this (if you get it via email) or text us at (909) 506-2400.

I forgot to mention this on Sunday, but we are starting something called 14 Days of hope, tomorrow, December 11. You will get a text in the morning. If you’d like to participate in this text & email-based digital journey toward Christmas, just reply back with the word LIGHT when you get it. It’s totally optional, and I encourage you to participate.

That should do it for the updates right now. If you have any questions, please reach out.

Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Matthew