Members and friends of Calvary,
Happy New Year! Yes, we celebrated the First Sunday of Advent this past Sunday and the start of a new year in the Church. It was good to see so many present with us, visitors, people I did not recognize, people asking about becoming members, and more preparation for those to be Confirmed and baptized. After the service, a baby shower was held for Natalie and Izak’s soon-to-arrive son Levon. In the evening eight of us gathered to explore the meaning and traditions of Advent. Next Sunday evening, we will gather to delve into the practice of Sabbath. We hope you will join us at 7:00 P.M. for snacks and add to our discussion. Advent always seems like such a full time in the church, especially as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child. Getting ready for special music, decorating the church house, the young people preparing for their pageant on the fourth Sunday of Advent, and this year, bishop Van Koevering’s visitation on December 11th . Our Inquirer’s/Confirmation classes will continue at
9:00 A.M. next Sunday and then return again in January. Too many people think of Confirmation as graduation, you have learned all you need to know, and you are now prepared to go into the world. I have always looked on it more as commencement, the start of a new phase of one’s life in Christ and the church. We should always be climbing the ladder toward God, for as long as we
are still here on earth, we will never reach the top. While Advent and Lent are times of special devotion, extra effort to prepare for the coming of the baby Jesus, the promised return of the Son of Man, and the Resurrection of Christ from the tomb, we should always be preparing to receive the eternal gift of oneness with the Lord. With this first Sunday of Advent, we begin a new year, the commencement towards the next steps of our journey in the Church.
Peace,
Bryant+
