My Contribution to the Central United Church Advent/Christmas Newsletter

     In the church, the beginning of Advent the time when we start preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, and so it represents the beginning of a new year on the church calendar – a year that moves from Christmas to Leant to Easter to Pentecost, through a few months of what's called “Ordinary Time” until it all culminates with a Sunday known as “Reign of Christ Sunday” - when we celebrate Jesus' authority over the world. Then, the cycle ends; and the new year begins – this year on December 1. So, while it may seem to be a month or so early, let me begin by saying to all of you: Happy New Year!

     To me, Advent is a strange time. Everyone calls this “the Christmas season.” We want to get right to the good stuff! Advent tells us that we have to hold on and wait. Our society has a tendency to be impatient – and sometimes that creeps into the church as well. I've sometimes had people say to me “what's this Advent stuff all about, anyway?” Well, we can't just celebrate the birth of Jesus – we have to prepare for it. You always have to prepare for the birth of a baby, after all. In the church, there's always tension between those who want more than a month of Christmas and those who understand that Advent songs are more appropriate. I always try to blend the different seasonal music: some will be Christmas carols, some will be Advent songs, some will be hymns that could be sung any time of the year. As Christmas approaches, we'll focus more on carols, and then in the Season of Christmas (which comes AFTER Christmas Day, not before) we'll be singing many of the old familiar carols.

As always, we have a full agenda during this Advent/Christmas season. Unfortunately, our Director of Music (Robert Wood) has informed me that for various reasons, the choir will be unable to offer its Christmas cantata this year. We will miss that. But there's a lot of other seasonal things to celebrate. Advent kicks off with a celebration of Communion on December 1. On December 8, our Sunday School (Central Casting) offer us their Christmas presentation, and they will collect white gifts. Christmas Eve will feature the usual two services (a 7:00 service featuring a lot of Christmas carols and other special items, and our 11:00 Communion service.) On December 29, I'll be offering our 3rd “Question & Answer” session rather than a normal sermon. The first two have been very well received. And we'll kick off 2014 on January 5 – the second Sunday of the Christmas season.

One of my goals for this congregation is to see us become a more mission-oriented church. We do a lot, from Out of the Cold Dinners to Clothing Boutiques. One program that doesn't receive as  much attention as it should is our sponsorship of 6 children through World Vision. This is a wonderful ministry, and an exciting way to be able to touch a young person's life. Our Council has agreed that we need to shift our understanding of our support of World Vision – so that our relationship with these children is not seen by us as a “commitment” but rather as a “relationship.” Each week we're going to be highlighting one of our children, and including them in our pastoral prayer at the end of the service, and we encourage all the members of the congregation to be a part of this relationship, especially by writing letters.

This year our special Christmas offering is being directed to the Scott Mission in Toronto. When I served as minister at Zion United Church in Sundridge, we took a team of volunteers on a 3 hour drive from Sundridge to downtown Toronto to volunteer at the Mission and help serve those who are supported by it. It was a wonderful experience. Our special offering this Christmas is going to be directed to the work of the Scott Mission.

     The Scott Mission is a Christian, non-denominational, faith-based street mission in downtown Toronto, serving the poor and needy of Canada's largest city. It is a ministry of mercy and love, which aims to meet the needs of people with love and compassion and seek to bring physical, spiritual and emotional wholeness to their lives. People from all over the country (most likely including some from this area) find themselves drawn to Toronto and unfortunately living on the streets or facing other challenges. Jesus asks us to serve. Without judging and without counting the cost. And so, we invite you, the Christian family of Central United Church, to respond to the call of Jesus to serve, by being generous in your support of this special Christmas offering.

     On behalf of Lynn and Hannah, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you be safe and may you be blessed! As we look ahead to 2014, let us remember the words of an old hymn:

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

     Yours in Christ,
     (Rev.) Dr. Steven Davis, Lead Minister