FAIRVIEW GRACE CHURCH
PASTOR'S  MESSAGE

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Beloved of God,

Greetings in the name of Christ, our Lord!

             The Advent cry is COME!  "O Come, Oh Come, Immanuel,." we sing, even though Emmanuel has come.  For, if the Coming 0ne has come, he is yet to come.  Had he not come he would not be yet to come.  And had he not come to us in our now, we should not suppose he had ever come or ever would come.  But - Glory be to God - he has come now, so he will come at and with the end, mine or the world's.  These words of Fred D. Gealy from the book, Celebration point us to not only our past and present with Christ, but to our future as well.  As December approaches, we tend to focus on Christmas Day.  After all, it is the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.  For many it means time with family and/or loved ones, the sharing of time and gifts.  Much preparation and effort goes into this day that it may be filled with love and laughter.  However scripture reminds us that as we prepare ourselves, w are also summoned to 'prepare the way of the Lord...' (Isaiah 40:3).  Part of that preparation is the season of Advent, the time of the Christian year that celebrates helps us to prepare for the coming of Christ - not only as he has come in the past, but as He will come in the future.  It is with this tension of past and future that we are located - the present.  How are we now preparing ourselves for a future with Christ?  Are we growing in Christ and living our lives in preparation for the time when we will see Jesus?  Are we helping to build His kingdom on earth?  For me the season of Advent has become a time of contemplation.  As I joyfully look forward to Christmas, I want to reflect on my life in Christ remembering that Jesus is coming back; and in the words of the old African American spiritual - "I want to be ready when Jesus comes!
Have a great Holiday Season.  As you spend time with family and friends, take time to be with the Lord.  And remember Jesus is past, present and future.  May the peace of the Lord be with you always!  

In His Service,

Pastor Marilyn