Dear church family and friends,
As I write this, we are still in the Christmas season, celebrating Jesus’ birth for twelve days. On January 6 we will move into the season of Epiphany, remembering Jesus’ appearance to the Magi and the Gentiles (non-Jews). And what is the proper response to both these seasons? Joy.
I like the way Henri Nouwen talks about joy in his book Following Jesus:
“Joy is that ongoing movement out of the places of death, out of the places where things remain the same and are not moving. Everything in life changes… It is very important for us to realize that joy is precisely that leaping toward life and move away from the places that are the same. Joy is always about an experience of life as new.”
I don’t know about you, but I need to hear this word right now as we turn our calendars to 2022. Because, if I’m honest, my knee-jerk reaction to another year is not very optimistic. Covid is still with us. Cultural and political turmoil persists. It’s easy for me to shrug my shoulders and say, “here we go again.” Yet Henri Nouwen invites me into something different: the way of Jesus. This way leads not to fear or resignation, but to surprising joy. This is the joy of the Messiah, the Lord, who has come to turn things around, to usher in his Kingdom, and to give us hope and a future.
How do we experience this joy? We take time to celebrate each and every day. Not flippantly, but graciously, being mindful of the grace and giftedness at the heart of life. Again, Nouwen says this:
“Celebrating life is not a party, but an ongoing awareness that every moment is special and asks to be lifted up and recognized as a blessing from on high. Jesus rewards us with joy. Not only later, but now. Not only in happy moments but also in our sorrow. Joy is hidden in our suffering and revealed in our communal life.”
He’s exactly right. We need to celebrate, even amidst continued uncertainty, because that’s what followers of Jesus do, in season and out of season. And that’s how we see the Spirit at work in us to cultivate joy, one day at a time.
So, led by that same Spirit, I want to celebrate some things with you:
Our staff, who have served our church in such faithful and creative ways. As I wrote last year, there is no playbook for leading ministry in a pandemic, and I have been proud of the ways they have handled the many curveballs thrown their way.
Our elders and deacons, who have made hard decisions and cared for our congregation (and so many others) during trying times.
The members and friends of First Presbyterian Church, 80 years running. You have joined in study, worship, and fellowship while staying flexible. You have given financially to our operating budget and Cornerstone Campaign. You have pulled together in happy moments and in sorrow. Keep persevering, friends; it’s worth it (see Romans 5:3-5).
God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for his unending love and amazing grace. Indeed, “you have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Yours in Christmas, New Year’s, and Epiphany joy,
Blake