As I write this article two days before Thanksgiving, I am already feeling behind on Christmas preparations. Although I have purchased a few gifts so far, my “to buy” list is still much longer than my “bought” list. My inboxes for snail mail and email are filled daily with coupons and advertisements that have thus far failed to inspire me. Apparently this year, Black Friday isn’t just a day but a week, so that’s a lot of pressure. My unaddressed Christmas cards have been sitting on the dining room table for a couple of weeks. We won’t put up our Christmas trees or outdoor decorations until after Turkey Day, and I don’t want to think about baking pecan bars and sugar cookies until the pumpkin pie has been eaten.

Beginning this new call at First Presbyterian in mid-November may suggest a poor sense of timing on my part, but actually I appreciate the opportunity to be quickly and fully immersed in all things Advent. My tendency is always to be planning for the next thing, which means that if I’m not careful, I can easily miss what’s happening right now.

So even as I delight in the shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, card-writing, and celebrating with family that comprise this holiday, I deeply desire quiet moments to be aware of Emmanuel,  God with us. I don’t want to be so exhausted by all the busy-ness of the season that I cannot keep my eyes open for the glimpses of holiness that God will show me—and us—as we wait for the light. I don’t want to be so fully focused on what I have “to do” tomorrow that I fail simply “to be” in the presence of God today.

During this season, I am grateful to prepare with you for Christ’s coming. I invite you to join me in the intentional work of getting our hearts ready to receive him—with daily readings and prayers from the Advent devotional booklet, weekly worship, and deliberate reflection on what it means to shine Christ’s love in a dark and hurting world. “Waiting for the light,” which is the theme of the Advent devotional, is more meaningful, in my experience, when we do it with others who similarly anticipating the arrival of Jesus. Let me know how the waiting is going for you!

I am trying to learn your names as quickly as possible. If you can wear your name tags or introduce yourself to me on Sunday mornings, that would be most helpful. And please, stop in to say hello if you are at the church during the week. For now, I will maintain the same days off to which you are accustomed—Friday and Saturday (except for the Casual and Contemporary worship on Saturday night). I will generally be in the office from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but call first if you need to see me, in case I am visiting folks or attending a meeting outside the church.

I wish each of you a beautiful Advent and Christmas season.

Grace and peace,