Believe me, we’re not including 80’s bands in our rituals anytime. If you want that, I’m afraid you’re on your own. However, after all these years, I still daydream and escape to the majestic sounds of their ballads with a tear.

People like my mother, father and brother were happy to give their pointers on the best songs. Some traditions are enjoyed better together. Like a chain of love, a departure from previous generations still pushes the frontiers. We can’t look into the future and never know what’s next for people.

I’m always entertained by those who misquote pop songs as if their version is the only solution! Anyway you want it, only the young can translate for us.

(Can you find Journey song titles in the above? Answers below.)

It seems like no matter how many times we read a text, there is always more to find. Our Holy Bible is a sacred, transforming work of the Holy Spirit in unity with human hand—what a beautiful book! Some of us can’t remember the first time we heard the Christmas story, but all of us have so much more to hear from the story. This is why I love Adam Hamilton’s approach to that well-known narrative, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem; he takes us on a journey, walking carefully, mindfully through the travels of the Holy
Family as we traverse Advent Season and Christmas Time. There is so much more to this rich tradition than what we’ve each gathered before.

I hope you may join us for worship or through tape ministry. We will be reading through a devotion based on this book. You may order a copy from Cokesbury.com, Books-A-Million or ask the office to order one for you.

I’m gonna leave you with this thought. Wait patiently; love opened the door and will lead us to that city of hope. Not just beyond the clouds, but here. I pray this Advent offers a message of love and you don’t stop
believing! Enjoy the lights this season,

Pastor Amy

(Answers: Believe, Ritual, Anytime, You’re on Your Own, After All These Years, Daydream, Escape, Majestic, With a Tear, Mother Father, [Here We Are] Happy to Give, Better Together, Chain of Love, Departure, Frontier, Look into the Future, Next, People, Anyway You Want It, Generations, Only the Young In the closing find: I’m Gonna Leave You, Patiently, Love Opened the Door, City of Hope, Beyond the Clouds, Message of Love, Don’t Stop Believing, Lights)

As we approach one of western civilizations best know stories as we observe Advent, a season of preparation for the coming of the King.  The Christmas narrative is written, preached and sung about so much our eyes are dulled by the repetition and familiarity of it.  Like our daily tasks, we may follow the traditions dulled by habit and neglect the sacred hidden in each moment, the unknown or forgotten details.

This year, we will be following The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem a curriculum by Adam Hamilton.

I’ve invited the youth, children and library study to it.  We’ll be following the focus through worship and a related reading in the library Wednesday night group.

In the coming days we will travel with the Holy Family in preparation for meeting Messiah at the manger.

The Theme through Advent is The Journey.