 |
|
Christ´s Lutheran Church |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
A congregation of the Metropolitan NY Synod |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
A word from our Pastor |
|||
|
Rest For The Weary |
|||
|
|
|
As I wind this Advent/Christmas Beacon to a close toward publication, I must confess that I am. There is so
much to do this time of year. There is so much to do ANY time of year. And so many concerns and causes to attend to. This year has brought more than its share of illness and death to our congregation, it seems. It also has brought
more than its share of bad weather: hard winters, hot summers, and, of course, floods. Our national and local woes continue, erupting in organized protest this autumn
after our political system saw no way to raise taxes on 1% of the richest Americans to the benefit of the whole. As we end the year, many people's lives have changed in
irreparable ways, our institutions seem unable to help them and yet, time goes on. It can be wearying. Imagine, thinking of the month of December as a time of "rest for the weary." I suspect that at one time it
was: crops would be gathered in and the bulk of the work in an agrarian society would be done. Not so for us. There is much to do. Much with which to be busy. Much to make us...weary. Yet, as I planned worship for Advent, the texts each week seemed to speak to this weariness: "O that you
would tear open the heavens and come down!" says the prophet in Isaiah 64:1 sounding weary and a bit worn out. The next week, the same people who are like grass, who "wither and fade" are cared for as a
shepherd cares for a flock. (Isaiah 40:1-11) The following week, Isaiah talks about bringing good news to the poor and oppressed and binding up the brokenhearted and comforting those who mourn. Again and
again, the message of Advent promises consolation and hope. Rest for the weary. Each year, Advent offers us a chance to revisit the promises God has made to us and to immerse
ourselves ever more deeply not only in God's words of forgiveness, but also God's promises in rest, renewal and redemption. In the words of a Christmas hymn: "For lo! The days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come
the time foretold, when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and all the world give back the song which now the angels sing." Rest and peace to you this Advent/Christmas Season. |
Are you weary?
|
|
|
|
|
This site was last modified on February 5 2012 |
|||