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On youth Sunday, Vicki asked me to help her with the December 20th Advent service. She asked me to do the message. That’s when my pondering, and panic, began.
In studying the Bible here at Trinity, besides the Bible, Google has become my best friend. I’ve learned that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. I’ve also decided I need milk, I’m not ready for solid food yet.
When I began the Disciple Study in 2013, Christmas was the one Biblical fact I was sure of, it’s the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The first time I remember having to know what “Advent” meant was when Miss VanLoon asked me if I was interested in hosting a table ….. which was before I had become a disciple. I’m sure she had no idea ….. that I had no idea what “Advent” was. She explained I would decorate a table, 5 or 6 people would sign up to sit at that table, and we’d share a meal together. I really can’t remember what else she told me but I agreed to host a table. I was excited, bought some pretty fall decorations, and had my table setting all figured out. After all, Christmas was still a long way away, it was actually close to Thanksgiving when she asked me. Then I found out it wasn’t fall decorations I should have bought, it was Christmas decorations. Long story short, I returned the fall decorations, bought Christmas decorations, arrived at the church early the day of the celebration, during a snow storm, only to find out the celebration had been canceled due to weather and I had apparently left for the church before the call came informing me to stay home.
I decided if I was going to do the message, the first step was to find out how many words would fill a 10-minute block, so off to my best friend Google I went. It was there I found that the average person speaks 125 to 150 words per minute, and thanks to Mr. Marshall it didn’t take me long to do the math. I was limited to 1250 to 1500 words. (Word count, 540)

Now for my topic. As a disciple, a learner, I decided to ponder “Advent”.
With the help of Mr. Webster, I found Advent is defined as the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and is observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting. This made perfect sense to me, we pray we find time to get everything done, and we fast because there’s not enough time to eat.
In preparation for the birth of our Savior, several use Advent Calendars which count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. The Advent wreath, four candles on a wreath of evergreen, is shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God. A candle is lit each of the four Sundays prior to Christmas day, they represent hope, love, joy, and peace; four virtues Jesus brings us. The fifth and final candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Jesus, the light of the world.
Next up in preparation may be decorating a Christmas tree. In my research I found the evergreen tree used in decorating is a symbol of life in the dead of winter, an everlasting life with God. After all, the evergreen tree is ever …… green, ever ….. lasting.
Now gift giving. The Bible tells us a group of distinguished foreigners visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Three wise men to be exact. (It was at this point I took a minute to ponder the number “three”. Triple…. Trinity…….. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If I remember I’m going to ask Joe if there is any significance here.) Anyways ….. I would have thought of taking clothing ….. diapers ….. and a rattle. (Word count 829)
Moving right along, celebration may be next in our anticipation. I’m fairly certain food would play a part. (In my learning, I’ve often heard about Methodists and food. That’s not a bad thing. I’ve thought about bad things when I think of other religions ….. but I won’t go there. Now back to food. Wait a minute ….. aren’t we are supposed to be fasting? I wonder if my family would buy that? Or maybe the fasting would end on the 24th? I’ll play it safe and just have snacks.
Moving right along, the Advent season would not be necessary if we didn’t have a baby. Our Savior. We need a mom. Now I’ve been aware for some time that God chose a virgin to bear our Savior, but what I don’t recall ever hearing, or reading for that matter, was the conversation Mary would have had with her parents …….. especially her dad, when she announced she was pregnant with “that” baby. Now I don’t know about any of your dads, but mine would never have bought into the whole “Holy Spirit” story. I won’t go any further into that subject due to the fact I’m now at 1,031 words.

To make the celebration complete we need family. Mr. Webster defines family as a group consisting of parents and children; descendants of a common ancestor. In Darlene’s dictionary, family also includes neighbors and friends. And it includes all of you. After all, this church is a “family” of believers in Jesus Christ, the reason for the season.
Now it seems to me, I’ve touched on the basic ingredients needed for an Advent season, and as with every recipe, each of us adds our own ingredients to make it a family celebration.
In closing, it is my opinion Linus summed it up best. With the help of Luke in chapter 2, verses 8-14:
And there were in the same country, shepherds …
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night
when lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them
And they were so afraid, and the angle said unto them
“Fear Not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy,
Which shall be to all people.
For unto you was born this day, in the city of David, a Savior
Which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you,
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”
And suddenly, there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly hosts,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men”
That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.
I am looking forward to celebrating with presents this Christmas, the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’d like to take the time now to thank Vicki for asking me to help out. I’d like to thank you for accepting my family with open arms. I’d like to thank Pastor Tim for the light he shines in this church, and I’d like to thank God for sending his Son to be our Savior.
Merry Christmas everyone!