Where's the star?
When the boys were young, we celebrated "Advent" with a quilted wall calendar. Each morning they would take a turn adding a decoration to a tree. On the last day, Christmas Eve, they would add a star.
The first year, Matt "generously" allowed Mark to go first. Actually, he saw that if Mark went first, Matt's turn would be the Christmas Eve star.
The next year, Mark asked to be the one to put up the star. Matt reasoned with him that since Christmas Day is the 25th, an odd number, then Mark should take the odd numbers. Around the 23rd Mark realized that the calendar ends on Christmas Eve, and he would not be putting on the star.
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After two years of being tricked, Mark took matters into his own hands. Before any of the decorations were put on the tree, the star disappeared. Only Mark knew the location.
When Christmas Eve drew near, Mark went into his room to get the star and returned empty handed. He forgot where he hid the star. And it was several years before the star turned up and was returned to its rightful place on the tree.
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We still pull out the Advent Calendar, but for Ed and me the calendar is less about counting days until Christmas and has become a reminder of what's important. (No, I don't mean do whatever it takes, even trick and steal, in order to get your way.)
It's a reminder to keep the star in Christmas, and the one to whom it leads.
Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. We have a calendar in the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. Instead of marking off days, we'll mark Sundays by lighting candles that represent what we find in Christmas: hope, joy, love, and peace.
Both services have a special highlight. We'll welcome a country music star to the 9:00 service, who will sing about where Christ was born and can be found even today.
At 11:00 we will dedicate new choir robes. The choir robes were given in honor of John Votaw, and the choir will be singing one of John's favorites, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent.
The children continue to take an offering, with their gifts being used for an angel tree present. Over the next few weeks, there will be Camp Christmas, Wednesday evening Holy Communion and prayer, the music service led by choirs, bells, and praise team, poinsettias that honor and remember people who have been important in our life, and the Stephen Ministers offering a Longest Night Service for those for whom Christmas is difficult. And of course, throughout it all, beloved carols that sing of angels, shepherds, and a babe in a manger.
I hope that these times of Advent worship will help you to remember what's important. To keep the star in Christmas. And to make room for the child to whom the star leads.
I'll see you in worship,
Pastor Cyndi
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