Pastor's Ponderings



                     "Prepare Him Room"





The retail world now starts stocking the shelves with Christmas merchandise before Halloween and advertising from then through Christmas Day.  Christmas carols rule the airwaves.

Why do we wait to pull out all the stops until Christmas is right upon us?  Why do we wait to sing most of the Christmas carols in worship until later in Christmas?

We wait because Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation similar to the season of Lent.  We need to take the time to "Prepare him room" each and every year.  It is important to remind ourselves that God took thousands of years to prepare the hearts of the Hebrew people to receive the Messiah, God's Son.  God made promises to the prophets hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus that he would send a savior to set them free.  Mary and Joseph waited nine months for the birth of Jesus. Surely we, too, should wait a minimum of four weeks to ponder as Mary did the significance, and mystery of the coming of Christ.

The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "a coming".  The color used in the paraments may be either purple for royalty or blue for truth, humility, and hope.  Red poinsettis remind us of the blood of Christ; green, of eternity; white of purity; gold, for Christ the King.  The circle of the Advent Wreath reminds us that God is always with us.  The four candles signify the four Sundays of Advent and the candle flames remind us that the light of Christ is coming into the world not only on Christmas but every day and that Christ will come again in final victory on the Day of God's own choosing.

Make a commitment to attend the service each Sunday and the special services during Advent. Consider making an Advent wreath for your home and/or having special devotions each week with your family or friends.  Pray each day for God to help you "prepare him room".  Remember the reason for the season.

                                 " Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
                                       Let earth recieve her King;
                                    Let every heart prepare him room,
                                       and heaven and nature sing"
                                                Issac Watts, 1719


   In Christ,

                  Ashley