“Christmas is coming! The goose is getting fat! Please put a penny in the old man’s hat!”

I learned that anticipatory song many years ago as an English schoolboy. I’ve no idea whether or

not it’s known here in the States but it often comes unbidden to my mind around this time of

year. Strictly speaking, as the Church, we have the whole season of Advent to go before we get

to Christmas but that should enhance our anticipation rather than detract from it.

Last year during Advent, I went “off lectionary” to give you all my favorite Advent series of

sermons, focusing on bits of the Christmas story that are either not in the Lectionary or have

been overshadowed by legends that have grown up around Christmas in EuroAmerican tradition.

This Advent, I’m going to “play it straight,” with sermons from the Lectionary. Utilizing the

traditional Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, we’ll look at what the Scriptures have

to say about “both” Advents of the Christ: passages in the Old Testament looking forward to the

coming of the Messiah and passages in the New Testament looking forward to his coming again.

Advent will culminate in our traditional Service of Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve at 7p.m.

And, due to the shifting of the calendar, we’ll get to celebrate TWO Sundays in Christmastide

this year, so there will be plenty of carol singing on December 29 and January 5!

I’m planning something new for my preaching in January (and perhaps beyond) with a new

series asking, “Why do we do THAT?” My own status as a Methodist “rookie” combined with

great discussions in our Confirmation class and some of my own reading has prompted a deep

dive into elements of our traditional worship. I’ll start with a look at the Lord’s Prayer, then

move to the Apostle’s Creed, Communion, and perhaps others of our liturgical traditions. I’m

really looking forward to the journey!

Pastor Chris