It is that time of year again. We refer to it as the season of Advent on the church calendar, while our culture calls it the holiday season. It is the time when we anticipate the celebration of Christmas. It is a time of cherished memories and traditions. It is a time of deep religious significance. However, we also know it can be a time of stress and worry. We want to buy the perfect gifts for everyone on our list. We want to make sure we create special memories for our families. We are trying to make sure we get everything done in time. Let’s face it: one trip to the shopping mall can leave us feeling anything but Christian.

So how can we be a Christian at Christmas? How can we make sure that we reflect Jesus in the midst of all the holiday pressures of the season? How do we balance the Christian celebration of Christmas with the cultural celebration? My Advent sermon series is going to tackle that very issue. I will be looking at some of the ways that Christianity and culture conflict during this time of year and how we can maintain the true Spirit of Christmas during the holiday rush.

The sermon titles for Advent are as follows:
November 27: Embracing the Spirit of Love (Matthew 5:43-48)
December 4: Embracing the Spirit of Giving (Matthew 6:1-4)
December 11: Embracing the Spirit of Receiving (Titus 3:3-7)
December 18: Carrying the Spirit Forward (Hebrews 5:7-14)

My prayer for all of us at this time of year is that we can be a reflection of Christ in the world around us, so that people will see that the spirit of Christmas is the love of Jesus Christ. May all of you have a special Christmas celebration and cherished times with your families.

Blessings,
Pastor John