December 2025

Advent is upon us! This is a season of preparation for the coming birth of the Messiah, Jesus. We will consider the words of prophets, lessons from the Gospels and what those lessons have to say to our daily living. We will have Christmas programs and Christmas parties, as well as the traditional Christmas Eve services. I have talked with several of you about helping with the Advent wreath lighting and decorations are up to bring joy, beauty and excitement to worship.

The four Advent Candles represent the hope, peace, love and joy that we feel during this season of Advent. We have hope in God's grace made real in the birth of the Christ. We experience peace in the promise Jesus represents - forgiveness and grace from God. We find the love of God that makes our salvation possible because Jesus lived the true godly life and calls us to do the same so the world can learn what we have come to learn. We end this season with the joy that God's own Chosen One, Jesus of Nazareth came with love and acceptance to a people experiencing hardship.

In our current situation, we are, more than ever, called to live the love and grace of Christ before others. In a time when divisions are common and spreading, people who are ostracized need to feel the grace of God. So I would encourage you to put on an extra measure of patience and helpfulness when you go out! Smile and act politely to everyone! Go the extra mile where you can, and seek ways that you can make someone else's day by your kindness and thoughtfulness. In this way, we show the very real presence of Jesus the Christ in our world even in a time of political upheaval worldwide.

Peace be with you all!

-Rev. Howard Hunt

(Our Yoke churches split effective January 1, 2026. Welcome, Lesley Buelow! Her Pastor’s Notes begin January 2026.)