“Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love” by The Rev. Kaji Douša

December 15th,2022 Categories: Weekly Letter
Dear Church,

Christmas is coming! I absolutely adore this time of year. The sanctuary is adorned with greens, the street is adorned with lights, and soon we will come together to celebrate Christ’s birth!

After church on Sunday, we will have an opportunity to celebrate Estella Pate’s life and to commit her cremains to the columbarium, where her parents’ cremains were interred. At this service, we will also give thanks for our beloved Joyce Clevinger. Joining me in leading the service will be Pastor Emeritus Rev. John Payne, who will offer the eulogy, and Rev. Richard Sturm who will offer the prayers at the columbarium. I do hope that you can join us in person and online.

This Sunday is the final Sunday of Advent. We have a special treat in our preacher, Brittany Braithwaite, whose sermon will be all about Mary. I do hope that you will tune in for this important moment in our worship life.

As a reminder, we will celebrate Christmas on Sunday, December 25 at our 11 am time – in person and online. The following Sunday, January 1, we will worship exclusively online and the church building will be closed. January 8 we will resume our weekly schedule in person and online, and look forward to celebrating the Epiphany with you.

I can’t wait to worship with you soon!

Pax,
Pastor Kaji

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 (Year A, pg. 55):

18 Now this is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to have a child in her womb from the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband was a just man and unwilling to shame her, he wanted to divorce her secretly. 20 But when he deliberated this, suddenly an angel of the Most High God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for in her is conceived a child from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this happened to fulfill what had been spoken by the Most High God through the prophet:

23 “Look now! The virgin shall conceive a child in her womb and give birth to a son, and they shall call him Emmanuel,” which translated means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph got up from sleep, he did as the angel of the Most High God commanded him. He took her as his wife, 25 yet did not know her sexually until her birthing of a son and named him Jesus.