Advent 2025

Advent began yesterday, but not exactly in the way we would have hoped. We did do a short, streamed service yesterday if you haven’t watched it yet. The first Sunday of Advent is about hope. God brings about his purposes, sometimes in unexpected ways, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad beginning to the season anyway.

The decorations in the church building look amazing. A big thank you to the crew who worked to get them all up last Friday. It’s always nice to get into the feelings of the season in that way.

We are looking at the four canticles, or songs, in the Gospel of Luke. Mary’s song yesterday; Zechariah’s song next week; then the angels’ song, “Gloria;” and finally Simeon’s song. The events surrounding the birth of Jesus was surrounded by music. It reminds us of the songs that we hear this time of year. What song or songs put you in the spirit of Christmas? What song do you need to hear before it feels like the Christmas season? I have many favorites, but there are a few I wait for every year. One of them Josanne played during the service yesterday; “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is one of my favorites.

Remember the various opportunities to give. There are ornaments on the giving tree for Project Evergreen. The Outreach Team is collecting coats for those in need. You can find Advent giving suggestions for the Danvers Carlock Food pantry on the table in the Fellowship Hall. Of course many charitable organizations have special needs this time of the year.

If all goes well, I hope to see you Sunday. Bring someone along to hear the message of Advent and to hear the songs of the season.

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

Luke 1:67-79—What themes do you notice in Zechariah’s song?

Psalm 71—What images of “rescue” does the psalmist give us in this psalm?

Colossians 1:9-20—What does Paul say we are “rescued from” here? What do you think that means?

Acts 10:34-43—How does the message of the gospel bring peace?