December 2014 – Pastor Anthony’s Letter

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Back in September, I went to LutherCrest Bible Camp (near Alexandria) for our synod’s annual Fall               Theological Conference for Pastors. The conference began at 9:00 am on a Monday and I could have drove     up Sunday       afternoon, but in order to spend more time with my family, I chose to make the 3½ hour drive   early Monday morning. It was dark when I began my journey northward. As I was driving north on highway   4, the horizon began to change colors. To my right, I could see the light from the sun was beginning to show.   To my left, I could see the darkness getting pushed away.

In John’s Gospel it says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) From the east, you can see the sun rising and as it does, it pushes the darkness away. When the light is present, the darkness cannot overcome it. No matter how much it tries, the darkness from the previous night will not be able to overcome the dawn of the new day. So too, Jesus (the light of the world) pushes our darkness away.   Jesus makes it impossible for the evil darkness to overtake us. Just as there are shadows present throughout the day, we too will have moments of darkness in our lives. But these moments of darkness will not be able to   overtake us as long as we have Christ on our side.

Advent is nearly here, which means that periods of darkness get longer, but our altar cloths turn to blue as we wait in hope of Christ’s return. When Christ does return in glory, the darkness of this world will fully come to an end. Until then, we light candles in anticipation of Christ’s return. On Christmas Eve, we will proclaim   these words from John’s Gospel in hope that one day the promise will be fulfilled, “The light shines in the   darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

As we enter the Advent and Christmas season, we REJOICE in the Lord. Those first Christians from Acts 2 were “praising God and having the goodwill of all people.” (Acts 2:47) Advent and Christmas are seasons of   the church year where we especially REJOICE for all that the Lord has and will do for us. We have already   been claimed as a child of God, been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins, and we wait   in anticipation for the return of our savior – the one who shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot       overcome him! REJOICE in the Lord, for one day Christ will come again! Until then, we light our candles         as we wait and hope.

 Reminder: Christmas Eve Candlelight services begin at 5:00 pm at Trinity & Waverly,

6:30 pm at St. Peter.

In Christ,

Pastor Anthony