A WORD FROM PASTOR ANDREW HOOK

Pastor Andrew’s (Semi) Weekly Word

November 21, 2022

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written a weekly word. (Hence, the “semi” in the line above.) In some seasons, life can often have a way of throwing more stuff at you than you have hours to handle them. And last week, while on a week of vacation, I was tempted to write a Weekly Word because I hadn’t done so recently. But, I had to remind myself, “I’m not God. 

It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to protect this time and not work.” It was hard. But I’m back in the office, and just before my favorite season of the year!

This Sunday begins Advent! Advent! Which leads to Christmas! The sanctuary is decorated and beautiful. We get to begin singing songs of expectancy and hope as we wait with bated breath to celebrate the birth of our Savior once more. We get to light the Advent candles of hope, joy, love, and peace. And finally, the Christ candle. And this year, for maybe the first time in recent history, as we observe Advent and celebrate Christmas, the dark specter of COVID will be a little less dark. 

I know y’all are as tired as me of hearing and thinking about COVID. But when this pandemic began, when we knew so little about this virus that was killing too many people, as a church, we had to change how we worshipped. We didn’t stop worshipping. Because God is greater than anything. But, in observing the second greatest commandment according to Christ, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we had to change how we worshipped. And it’s been a gradual and careful process of reintroducing worship elements that we had to pause. 

This Sunday, this first Sunday of Advent, as we light the first candle signifying hope, we are going to return to a more liturgical order of worship. Kevin (our worship leader) and I sat down a few weeks ago and examined our order of worship and decided that Advent was the right time to reintroduce elements of worship that had to be paused when the pandemic began. 

A weekly affirmation of faith stating clearly, and reminding us, what we believe is essential to our faith. 

A prayer for illumination.

A responsive call to worship.

A time to pass the peace, welcome each other and our neighbors, bring our offerings, and then sing the doxology as we lift them up to the Lord.

As someone who delights in liturgy, in the rituals that define time and add meaning, I’m excited to begin our Advent worship with these elements returning. As someone who is a METHODist, it’ll be nice returning to the methods of worship that have been passed down to us. 

And speaking of Advent, this season our Advent worship series will be focused on food. (I mean, this season from Thanksgiving to Christmas is first and foremost about Christ. …but food is second.) Look out for the ways you’ll be invited to share recipes, share a meal, and share food with each other and our community this season. 

One final note, if you’re a member of our church, if you unsubscribe from the church emails which are our primary way of communication, unfortunately you may not be able to re-subscribe and stay informed about what’s happening. 

And if you’re reading this, if you don’t already have a church home, know that you are always welcome here. There is always a place here for you. 

This season of Advent, may the promises of hope, joy, love, and peace be more real than in years past. 

Sunday is coming! We’ll see you there. But have a Happy Thanksgiving in the meantime!

--
Andrew Hook

Pastor