We continue with the series: Words for the Beginning in this second week of Advent with the theme: We Can’t Go Alone.
Scripture this week is Ruth 1 & Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, which might seem odd choices for Advent. These passages are often read at weddings although they have nothing to do with marriage, but they do have being connected and leaning on one another.
Loneliness has been identified as being as detrimental to health as smoking. That’s one of the reasons we started Wellness Wednesdays for Seniors. So, I’m going to explore connection and disconnection this week, along with Christmas traditions. From some of the material in the series: The season of flickering candles and twinkling lights can have a shadow side filled with loneliness and grief. For many, it feels like a our homes and hearts, and to show that in God’s family, no one has to face their sorrows alone.
This is your early bird announcement giving you lots of opportunity to buy socks to throw at me!
The weeks are full… bulletin, funeral and concert prep… posters and graphics… reflections and prayers to write… quiet time to receive… meetings to lead and participate in… Facebook material… and things seem to multiply overnight… and not everything I planned for this season will get done… again… just like every other Advent/Christmas season in ministry… but Jesus will still come, regardless.
I referred to the loneliness epidemic earlier… if you’re finding this season challenging for any reason, come to the Blue Christmas Service we’re hosting at Mattatall Funeral Home on December 17th. Or if you’re not having a difficult time, but know someone who is, invite them, offer to pick them up and go with them.
St. James United Church Dartmouth 