Pastor's Note

Christmas greetings to all,

The day after Thanksgiving, I was helping Gary with some construction work that required me to climb a ladder. The day went smoothly, and we accomplished a lot. We were both tired, and it was getting dark when Gary suggested we stop and finish the next day. I said we only have a little left to do, let's finish." The next thing I remember is a paramedic standing over asking me questions. I had passed out and fallen off the ladder. I was told I had been unconscious for over 3 minutes, suffered a concussion, and fractured my pelvic bone. The medical people who worked on me in the emergency room suggested that I take some time off from work until my body had time to heal.

I fully understood their recommendation, but it was rather upsetting because I knew that the season of Advent immediately followed Thanksgiving this year. It got worse when I checked my calendar. I found the Women's Christmas Dinner with Angelus Chorus was the next day, closely followed by the Cape May City Tree Lighting ceremony and the Christmas parade.

White I lay in bed feeling discouraged and upset with serious concussion symptoms, something spoke to me from within. I was preparing for Advent all wrong.

The word Advent means "coming." Because the world was dark and broken, God sent His Son to bring light into this world to lead us out of the darkness. Traditionally the Christian church prepares an advent wreath with lights that serve as a symbolic expression. 

The Advent wreath has five candles. They arranged four along the edge and one in the center.  Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord. One candle lit each week, representing Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

On Christmas Eve, we light the white center candle, called the Christ candle. This candle represents the light of Christ that has come into the world. This candle is placed in the middle because Christ is the center of this season. That is what the world needs and what I was supposed to prepare myself before thinking about the parade, tree lighting or Women's Christmas dinner.
 
Maybe my fall was a blessing in disguise so that I would begin this season from a dark place. I truly believe this Christmas Eve will be much sweeter than previous ones for me. It is my prayer for all those who are struggling in their life's journey that God's Hope Peace, Joy and Love be with you. God gave us Christmas because we were all broken.

Merry Christmas to you all!!