"Peace on Earth" by Jason Edwards

In Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Philippians 4, Paul offers these words: "My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God" (Phil. 4: 1, MSG).

These words resonate deeply. Read every sentence. Ponder all of the meanings that might be packed into each one. Pause to take in the sentiments. As we move into this holiday season, now starting our tenth month of coronatide, I echo Paul's sentiments, with what I hope you'll know and hear:

I love you so much. I miss sharing life with you in the ways we took for granted, even as I'm grateful for all of you and the ways we're able to continue sharing this life together. I want the best for all of you, as do all of our pastors. This is why we've continued to follow the informed leadership of our Re-Opening (COVID Response) Task Force. We're trying our very best to love you and all of our neighbors well, which has forced us to sacrificially and creatively adapt again and again. This hasn't been easy, but you all have stepped up and embraced what must be done in so many good and generous ways. As Paul said, "you make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride," and "don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God."

 This is easier said than done now, I know. COVID life is taking a toll on all our lives. We continue to grieve our losses, both significant and subtle, as we move into a time that could easily exasperate them. We know this season we so want to be "normal," won't be. It's good and helpful to acknowledge that.

It's good and helpful because it's healthy. We need to name our struggle and our fear honestly. Acknowledgment is also good and helpful because it prompts us to consider the kinds of uncommon responses we might offer. What specific practices might strengthen our own ability to navigate this strange holiday season?  Even more, how might we all look outward and intentionally offer God's hope, peace, joy, and love to others in our community?

Our church leadership (staff and volunteer leaders) has been working hard and planning (even as we're adjusting and adapting) to offer you many meaningful opportunities to experience (and share) God's presence, peace, and purpose this Advent and Christmas. We love you and so desperately want you to feel God's nearness and love for you. We also hope this will be a time when we all freshly understand and embrace God's call upon us to be people of God's peace. This is at the center of this year's Advent theme: Peace on Earth. I do hope you'll join us weekly in worship (and through this year's Advent devotional guide), where we'll consider our need to both receive and wage Christ's peace.

This is always a timely message for Christians—ever more so as we move into the final stretch of 2020. As we do, consider these words, also taken from Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Philippians 4:

"Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies" (Phil. 4: 6-9, MSG).

May it be so—this day and in the days ahead…

 Jason Edwards, Senior Pastor