From the Pastor's Pen

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Time marches on, as they.  Pack-up the Christmas decorations for another year’s storage in the attic, or wherever you store them. Christmas was great, now it’s time to move on with our lives. Rather a fatalistic approach to life, isn’t it?  

Life doesn’t have to be that way, not in the church. As I write this article, we are still in the Christmas season, in the church.  Sure, the secular skeptics have by now packed everything away and kicked the Christmas tree to the curb. Not us, we savor every day of the twelve days of Christmas all the way to Epiphany.

Then, we celebrate some more. It’s a great time to be in the church. The “Gentile Christmas” is all about the star, and worshipping the Baby born in Bethlehem as the newborn King.  The Magi did. They had heard the story about Jesus from Israel in exile.  And, once they saw the brightest star ever, off they went bringing gifts fit for a King.

I pray that we too bring our gifts to Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
No, I am not talking about monetary gifts of gold and silver, dollars and such.
He wants our hearts. Jesus wants our lives dedicated to Him. He wants us to do as the shepherds did on the first Christmas – give God the glory and praise His name. Our Lord, Jesus wants us to do as the Magi did – fall-down and worship Him.

Yes, life goes on, but in the church our lives have a purpose – Jesus Christ.
“O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”  
Amen and amen!

Blessings in His Holy Name,

Pastor Hilton