11-30-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 30, 2023
As you have heard, this Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Often, by November 30, we are already into the Season of Advent, but the way the calendar fell this year, it is actually the latest possible start date for Advent. With tomorrow being the first day of December and with every store in full Christmas mode, I feel as if we should already be well into Advent. It sort of feels as if we are in uncharted territory. And since Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas, let’s call these days leading us to the first Sunday of Advent a time to prepare for the time of preparation. Even though I sort of chuckle at the thought, I wonder how many of us need some intentional preparation just so we can enter the time of preparation well prepared. Call it pre-prep. We can laugh, but the Bible is filled with stories about people preparing. Whether it was Israel in the Wilderness, one of the prophets in the desert, or someone visiting the mountaintop, getting ready for the next thing was never an afterthought. So for this almost ready-to-get-ready time, I hope you will ask yourself, “What do I need to be doing to make the next thing (which happens to be Advent and then Christmas) the best expression of my faith that is possible?”

Today is an excellent day to get ready for whatever it is that you might be inviting me to do, Gracious God. I don’t want to feel rushed or unprepared, so help me to put in place whatever is necessary so that my convictions are able to come alongside the greatest need. Amen.