Dear First Pres,
 
This morning my desk looks like it’s covered with little yellow leaves that might have fluttered in through the open window, but really they are the Thankful Notes we stuck on the cross in Sunday's services. It’s such a joy to sift through them and see all that you are grateful for, from ‘pets’ to ‘the promise of eternity with Jesus’, and everything in between! Even though Thanksgiving is one of my favorite seasons and celebrations, by the time you’re reading this we will all be transitioning into Advent.  At Thanksgiving we look back; during Advent we are looking forward and getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  We begin with a time of Hope, listening to God’s law and thinking about how much we need the Savior whom God has promised to send.
 
We have a couple of traditions to help launch us into this time of reflection and active waiting. On Sunday, hundreds will fill our sanctuary with the glorious music of Handel’s Messiah and sing God’s Words of prophecy and fulfillment. As much as I love, and I do mean love, Christmas music, every year I hold off on all of it until after the Messiah. What started out as a musical tradition has become a spiritual discipline for me; it’s one way that I practice keeping Christ at the center of Christmas because the season deliberately begins with God’s Word instead of the “go shop” word from the advertising industry.  And it’s definitely worth waiting for as we sing together this joyful proclamation, “Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” If you’ve never participated, I invite and encourage you to come and experience it for yourself!     
 
On another delightful, but slightly stickier note, on Dec. 6, families and friends will gather in FPC’s newer tradition of decorating gingerbread houses together.  This is a great event to invite unchurched neighbors, co-workers and school friends to come and share. If you don’t have children in your household, feel free to borrow some or team up with a few friends for the decorating. If you’re not a gingerbread architect but still want to join in, you may choose only to purchase lunch. Either way, come join in a great time of friendship, frosting and fun!
 
Grateful for Jesus, and looking ahead with you,
Pastor Lana