It is Week 4 of Advent and I would once again like to light a virtual calendar and use the script for it from the book we are using for our Advent Season at Boone First United Methodist Church this year.
The book is “The Redemption of Scrooge” by Matt Rawle:
During the final week of Advent, we light the candle of Joy. By now Christmas is just a few days away. Last-minute shoppers are getting desperate, children are out of school, people are praying that the real Christmas tree they decided to get instead of the fake one in the attic will hold on until Christmas dinner with the family. This close to Christmastime, we can easily become distracted from the joyful anticipation of the coming Christ Child we felt earlier in the year when Thanksgiving leftovers were still edible.
If you are involved with your worship team, or you are the one fulfilling Christmas lists or preparing a Christmas family meal, it is exceptionally easy to be burning the Advent candles at both ends, so to speak. I remember early in my ministry I volunteered to officiate at the Christmas Eve service at eleven o’clock. I remember getting home in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Day, grabbing a coffee to help Santa put together a scooter, shutting my eyes for an hour or two, and before I knew it, I was reading the call to worship on Sunday service. When I came home after Sunday worship, I looked at my wife and said, “Whew, I’m tired. What a weekend.” She looked back saying nothing, but I “heard” loud and clear — You’re tired?!
It is easy to miss the joy as the calendar moves closer to Christmas, and maybe this is why we light the candle of Joy last. So take a moment and join me in prayer:
Gracious God, fill us with your joy, the steadfast assurance that you are with us. Help us to remember that this is a holy time, not due to our preparations or celebrations, but because you have chosen to walk among us. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Redemption of Scrooge by Matt Rawle – Page 114
Tonight we light the Joy Candle:
Happy Advent!
Back in July I hopped in Russell’s Cadillac with Dre and completed a way too long in coming quest to go to Kansas City and finally try Stroud’s legendary fried chicken.
Here are some pictures from the trip:
We got there about 3 PM and there was still a 30 minute wait.
What was the verdict?
It was definitely a cool experience and I would definitely go back! Was it the best fried chicken I’ve ever had in my life? I don’t think so. But it was definitely fantastic!
Next Sunday’s food adventure will be the food adventure where Jesse got injured.