From the Pastor – February

A few days before Thanksgiving, I noticed that some houses already had their outdoor Christmas lights and displays assembled in their yard. This family went over the top … there were Santas, Minions, Stitch figurines, Elves, and Aliens … there were Gingerbread characters, Christmas trees, Snowmen, and even Mickey Mouse, they had everything remotely related to Christmas, but NO MANGER FOR JESUS! Many other homes take their decorations down the day after Christmas and some leave their lights up all year long.

It is easy to get caught up in the pre-Christmas rush and quickly transition into New Year’s celebrations and Seahawks playoffs and leave Jesus behind. That is why the celebration of the Church Year is an important part of our faith journey. Our life as followers of Jesus is centered around Him as we gather to worship, we do so with a strong sense of time and history. Our understanding of history is rooted in Scriptures; from the beginning of time, when God created the world, our days were ordered by light and darkness, day and night. God created annual seasons of planting, growth, harvesting, and hibernating. He established this time consciousness when He said, “Let there be …” After the 12 Days of Christmas, the Church moves to a time where we focus on the revealing of Jesus to the world; a season that is ignited when the Gentile Magi follow the star to worship the King of Kings on the Feast of Epiphany (January 6).

In this season of Epiphany, we acknowledge, confess, and profess that JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. We celebrate Jesus’ presence and purpose during the six to eight weeks that lead up to Ash Wednesday. This season of light is book ended with two important events in Jesus’ life, His baptism and entry into public ministry, and His Transfiguration when Jesus gives His disciples a glimpse of their LORD in divine splendor.

As we stow away the Christmas decorations for another year and transition into the second month of this new year, may the Light of the World, Jesus, shine in your heart and mind, may your path be illumined by His Word and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide your decisions, guard your path, and continue to gather you into His Church for the forgiveness of sins and the strength and courage to share His light with others.

Pastor Schuldheisz