Don't Miss Anything: Preparing our Lives for God

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: John 1: 1-5, 9-14 (MESSAGE)

The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.

The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life, he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, he made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

Right on the heels of Thanksgiving we hear this text as a new start for a brand new church year.  In it, John reminds us of the new creation found in God through Christ Jesus.  This new beginning is one that nothing can stop or change – not darkness, not pain, not brokenness, not ignorance, not hate.  John tells us that the new creation is so real in our lives that it feels as if it has moved into our neighborhood, our homes, our lives, our all.

For those who dread the holiday season, this is good news.  For those whose lives have been shrouded in the darkness of depression and despair, this is good news.  For those who have been physically and sexually abused, broken and betrayed by relationships, family and systems, this is good news.  For those who feel disconnected, unloved and unlovely, this is good news.

This is the good news:  God is here.  God is with each one of us in our pain and in our joy, in our despair and in our hope, in our heartbreak and in our healing.  God is with us reminding us that no darkness can drive God away, no pain is too great, no brokenness too deep to keep God’s love from creating new life, new hope and new opportunity in and for each one of us.

This is a gift for which we all can be thankful!

Join us this Sunday, November 27 at 10:00a.m. in Christ Church for the moment we have all been waiting: a day of new beginnings.  Join us as we prepare our Sanctuary and our hearts for this new season of hope. With a carol sing, we will place ivy, holly, green wreaths, and love all around the church and hang our ornaments on our very own Chrismon Tree.  This is a great service for the whole family.  Hope to see you in Church!