Hi all.
It's hard to believe that December and Advent are already upon us again with all of the activity, services and events that make this a joyous time of year. And this Sunday certainly embodies that fullness. Our worship on December 1 celebrates the beginning of a new season with the lighting of the first Advent candle.
The four candles of the Advent wreath specifically symbolize the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy and love, with these candles being lit subsequently throughout each week of the Advent season. And, on Christmas Eve, we light the Christ Candle to celebrate the birth of Christ.
But we've only just begun. At Coldwater we will also have the Sacrament of Baptism as we welcome Eleanor, the daughter of Connor and Kayla Chambers. What a wonderful way to begin our journey to the manger!
Also, this is White Gift Sunday. The story of White Gift Sunday began in 1903, in Painesville, Ohio, where a woman was troubled by her children arguing over the value of different gifts. She suggested that they, together with other children of the Sunday School who were bringing gifts to church for those in need, should wrap the gifts in white paper. The uniformity of decoration would obscure the gifts’ value. The idea allowed everyone to participate in the joy of giving without regard to economic status.
The ideas behind the origin of the White Gifts tradition resonate for us today. Poverty may be obvious to the attentive observer, but there are many communities in which poverty goes unseen. Churches continue to play a vital role not only in making someone’s Christmas with simple gifts, but also in declaring that unseen needs are not forgotten. This is the joy that Mary expresses in the Magnificat—that God sees the needs of the people and desires us to rectify injustice, reconcile relationships, and mend the broken.
The donations from Coldwater will be going to The Lighthouse in Orillia. And those from Wesley United Church, Eady will be sent to Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia.
But wait, there’s more. As we gather this week, we will also be sharing the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
This is a longer message than usual, but I hope that we can all enjoy it together.
And remember that you can always contact me if there is a need for pastoral care or if you simply want to talk.
705-209-3899
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