WIC The Good News Letter
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The December Good News Letter Check out our website at www.westindependencechurch.org
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK At the close of another year, we have begun a season of great celebration, from Thanksgiving leading into Advent and Christmas. We have just finished Thanksgiving Day and, for better or worse, Black Friday that comes with it. There are various theories as to its true origin, but everyone can agree that it is the biggest shopping observance of the year. Black Friday has changed quite a bit over the years. You may recall not too long ago the fanatics setting up tents outside the entrance of stores like Best Buy or Walmart to be the first in line and help ensure they could grab the item(s) they just had to have before the stock ran out. I remember, on one occasion, my family being amongst the throngs of people taking advantage of the low prices that could only be found this time of year. We tried to be smart about the excruciatingly long checkout lines, as one person would save a spot as soon as we walked in the door while the rest found the items!
This year my attention was drawn to a noticeable trend, early Black Friday shopping. A reminder was even in place in the Amazon and Walmart apps on my phone, which opened to a message graphic that rolled out like a red carpet announcing the ‘can't-miss’ deals. Retail companies have tapped into the cultural desire of advance shopping, which has been brought about by the convenience of doing so from one’s phone. The reasoning goes, the earlier the start, the more money spent. As in all things if we look closely enough, there is a connection here to the gospel and Advent in particular. The human desire to PREPARE has been brought out in the early-black-Friday-shopping trend. It just so happens that Advent has always been about preparing, for Christ's second coming on the other side of His first coming. The more things change, the more they stay the same. "Preparation is the key" is the trend of Christmas now and always. Further, the events of the world that we have become keenly aware of make it paramount that we are preparing well. As a church we are staying diligent and active in our observances, which you can read about throughout this newsletter. All these things have the purpose of helping us PREPARE, to celebrate the miraculous, incarnational birth of Jesus the Messiah we cherish, and looking forward to His return. Let's continue the prevalent theme of preparation, in the context of our hearts, in the call of what Advent is all about: hope, faith and trust in the baby born to save.
Merry Christmas! Pastor Ben Pastor Ben will be leading an Advent Study during the month of December, beginning Wednesday, December 6. This study will include scriptures and questions for each week, along with the devotional book, In The Manger, by Max Lucado. Dates and times are: Wednesday, Dec 6 Tuesday, Dec 12 Wednesday, Dec 13 Wednesday, Dec 20
9:30am; 6:15pm -6:15pm 9:30am -9:30am; 6:15pm