Shannons Message
Dear Friends,

The beginning of Advent has arrived. What does this season mean to you? Perhaps it’s the season of preparation and you’re making a list of all that needs to be done . . . writing Christmas cards, shopping for gifts, decorating your home, baking traditional Christmas sweet treats, and making the menu for Christmas dinner. Maybe you’re not only doing this for your own home or family but also for the church. In addition to decorating, there are additional special services and events in the church during this season as well as parties with friends and office staff. So, this can be a time of great busy-ness for so many of us. And this busy-ness can lead us to feeling depleted and tired. 

Advent is also known as the season of waiting and anticipation of the birth of Christ, whose love and life will transform how we understand the nature and will of God. Hmmm . . . that sounds a bit different from all the busy-ness that we can get caught up in. When I think of what it means to wait, words like ‘pausing’ and ‘stillness’ come to mind. It is in the quiet that we can pay more attention and listen for the invitation that God is offering. 

The Methodist Church’s Christmas campaign this year is called “Hush the Noise.” This is the time to listen for the love song that the angels bring. They sang it for the first time more than 2,000 years ago, on the midnight clear. This theme comes from the carol “Upon the Midnight Clear” and it’s a reminder that we need to take time to quiet our noisy, busy lives in order to hear the divine voice. May we take time to wait, pondering anew what and who we’re truly waiting for and what the world needs. May we receive a deep peace as we hush the noise in our lives focusing on the angelic message. And on Christmas Day, may we rejoice with all the world in celebrating the birth of God’s own son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  

May you and those you love have a Christmas filled with hope, peace, joy and much love!  

Christmas blessings,
~ Rev. Shannon 


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