My dear friends,
Happy Advent! This is one of my favorite times of year. It’s not about the weather, though I do prefer the cold to the heat. It has nothing to do with the decorations, though I do like to prepare for Christmas with beautiful trees and crèches. It is not about people baking, though I do love the cookies! I love this time of year for Advent itself.
      We get so caught up in the excitement of making Christmas come early, that we often forget this is a season all its own. Advent is a time of joyful expectation. It is a time to anticipate good things. We await the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It isn’t just the announcement of his birth we expect, but we long for his Second Coming with judgment and glory for the world. We look for the coming of our God to dwell among us. We contemplate the wonder of that gift. We seek the presence of Christ within us and draw it out. We recognize that we bring Him to life in the world through our words and actions. We carry the Lord with us wherever we go. It’s an awesome mystery, both empowering and humbling. Advent is about all this, and I love that.
      As we go through this season, make the most of what comes. Join us for the parish mission this week. Hear about others who awaited the coming of the Lord and worked to make it happen in their own ways. Join us next Sunday for Lessons and Carols. Sing the praises of our God, Emmanuel, and hear the great story of how the Lord chose to join with the human family. Light your Advent wreath and dispel the darkness of doubts and fears. Take inspiration for the customs we will cover in the bulletin this season. Enjoy this time for what it is, a time of expectation and endless possibilities. Rejoice!

My dear friends,
      Happy Thanksgiving! This week, our nation sets aside a day to give thanks. We thank God for the blessings of food and family. We are grateful for the peace and prosperity of the land. We call to mind how blessed we are as a people. Thanksgiving is about all that. It’s a day to be grateful. For what are you grateful?
      I am grateful for the ability to host our brothers and sisters of other denominations and faiths at our service this Tuesday. We often spend so much time distinguishing ourselves from one another over sometimes small difference that we can forget that all people of faith are seeking to find truth. We hope to be servants of our God and one another. A time like the Southington Interfaith Thanksgiving Service allows us to see that. We will worship together and build on the ties that bind. It should be beautiful, and I thank God for it.
      I thank God for the ability to gather with family this holiday. It’s easy to focus on the negative, but we are blessed. I count my blessings that I still have both my parents and there is family nearby. I am thankful that I am not alone in this world, but I have people to share the journey. I rejoice that we can gather in our family home surrounded by the pictures and objects of those who made this life possible. Dinner will be wonderful, and I thank God for that.
      I rejoice that we have the chance to celebrate Christ the King this weekend. Our God loves us so much that He chose to share in our humanity. Jesus Christ accepted suffering and death to redeem me from my sins. Rather than seeking his own comfort and protection, he gives that to me. I get to see how truly valued I am. The Savior loves me, and I am glad. I give thanks for the wonders God has done for us all and our ability to see that this weekend.
      This is a time to give thanks. It is a time to rejoice and be glad. It is a time to reflect on all that we have, and not just what we still want. To be grateful to appreciate the blessings in life. We see how our God touches us in so many ways and channels. What an amazing holiday that calls our mind to that. Think of those great gifts you have. Remember all the love that has come to you and you have offered. Take time to think about it all and let God know how grateful you are. Thanksgiving is for thanks, and we count the blessings and acknowledge the source of it all. Thank you, Lord!