Dear Friends in Christ—
On Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Advent, we will pray that when Jesus comes “he may find in us
a mansion prepared for himself.” This week, we will be preparing ourselves inside and out, and
I believe the two are connected.
The outside preparation is easy to see. Many of us are still putting up Christmas trees or
cleaning for relatives or figuring out which tablecloth to put out in the dining room.
The inside preparation? It’s a little harder to notice. Perhaps you are working to be more kind
this time of year. Or more patient.
The irony is that the exterior preparation sometimes gets in the way of the interior. I
remember when my children were small, I was so determined to have the perfect Christmas for
them that I became harried with details and short-tempered with the people I loved the most. I
had to step back to realize that the house was decorated as a symbol of our joy—not as the
cause of it.
I share these thoughts because on Wednesday of this week, the Altar Guild will host the
Greening of the Church from 5:00-7:00 p.m. It is work, of course. But it is primarily a source of
joy and community. What we are really hoping to show in the nave is not a whole lot of
poinsettias. It is love.
I encourage you to come share. Not only because many hands make light work, but more
importantly because many hands make a loving community. If you are new to the church, this
is the perfect chance to connect. (When you are new to a community, it can often be easier to
have a job and a role. The Greening will give you both.). If you have been here a long time, this
is a chance to re-connect to the people who perhaps have felt far away these last few pandemic
years.
May we find the beauty of God’s love whichever way we turn.
Yours in Christ,
Anne+