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Dear San Marco Church Family: If you were present for worship in person or online this past Sunday, you know that our Advent series is based upon the book entitled The Christmas Letters by Magrey deVega. The premise of the book is that because the earliest books of the New Testament, even before the writing of the gospels, are the letters of Paul and others, we do well to hear how those letters reference the coming of Jesus. Each week during Advent this year, we will examine a different Christmas letter. This Sunday, December 8, we will look closely at the letter of 1 John and compare it to the language in the gospel of John. The theme of both passages is light. What does it mean to say that God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all? What does it mean to say that the light shines in the darkness, and the light has not overcome it? Friends, advent is the beginning of the liturgical calendar, and during this season we can reflect upon how having Jesus walking with us makes our lives different. I am fully aware that we can find many, many reasons to be discouraged when we look at the challenges all around us. Yet when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are celebrating the confident hope of the world’s redemption because of Jesus. During Advent, we wait expectantly for God’s kingdom to enter the world, often through us! And as I said last week in worship, this requires that we PAY ATTENTION. God’s Spirit is at work all the time, ready to surprise us! At this point in your life, I invite you to ask yourself what Pastor DeVega asks in his book, “As you move through this Advent season, in what ways do you need to ponder and experience the truth of God’s love for you? What burdens are you carrying that seem insurmountable? Rather than grasp for quick and easy answers, maybe what you are really looking for is a sense of God’s deep love for you? And wouldn’t it be nice if, somehow, that love from God were so tangible, so real, that your experience of it was unmistakable?” It is my prayer for all of us that we can truly grasp the truth that, as our church sign reminds us, “God’s perfect love removes fear.” Because of Jesus, we need not fear the present or the future. We are loved beyond measure, and we can trust the One who loves us! This is good news! Thank you for the ongoing privilege of serving as your pastor! I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Steve Hart
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