John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
God's love holds nothing back! Love is like a light shining in dark places. Lighting this fourth candle of Advent we celebrate the love we find in Jesus Christ.
This Enduring Love
This love endures
present in each moment
whatever that moment brings
joy, the simple joy of kindness
the complex joy of love
comfort, the gentle touch of normalcy
escape from ravaging pain
satisfaction, from the quenching of a thirst
to the consummation of a dream
care, lifting a burden
resuscitating a heart, broken or damaged
even death fails to
separate us from
this enduring love
For much of my life I have thought of love as a state of being. We often speak, for instance, of falling in love. But I have come to think of love much more as an active verb. To be loving is to love. Jesus, the Christ, is an act of God's love -- God's love entering our time and place.. And our acts of kindness, empathy, service, and even worship are acts of love.
As Christmas approaches, how can we make our love active? How many people do we know need love to enter their lives? What can we do (even in a pandemic, or because there is a pandemic) that will be a response to God's enduring love, that is a Christmas gift of love? How can we be a light in the darkness of this time?
Light in the Darkness
To witness splendor, we must have light
Whence comes the light
From glorious acts of love and creation
With fire comes the light
The refiner’s fire, not simply a source of light
But light rendering purity
Light penetrates the darkness
Light hides the shadows
Light guides us to peace
Be sure to let your family and friends know that the Colchester Area Advent Series will be broadcast every Sunday evening in Advent at 5 pm on LCATV (Cable Channel 15).
You can also share this link: https://lcatv.org/ecumenical-advent-series-0004.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Russ
Candle photo credit: Photo by Amelie Niklas Ohlrogge
Christmas Cross photo credit: Photo by Russell E. Willis
Poems by Russell E. Willis
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