Dear Pali Pres,
It was such a joy to begin the Advent journey with many of you last week in worship. The beautifully decorated sanctuary, the Advent Candle Lighting, the music, the reading of the Annunciation passage…it was a great start to this holy season. As we make our way towards Christmas Day, we mark these days with intentional waiting and hope. In fact, the word Avent comes from the Latin word “adventus” meaning “coming” or “arrival.” We are, indeed, in a season of hopeful expectation for Christ’s coming.
While we prepare for the Second Sunday of Advent, I am mindful of two important and noteworthy dates that make up this week. First, this past Wednesday (December 6th) was the feast day of St. Nicholas, a 4th Century bishop from what is now Turkey. (Feast days are special days set aside on the calendar for each canonized saint in the Catholic Church in which saints are remembered with special services and prayers.) St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children and sailors, who was notorious for his generosity. In many parts of the world, on the evening of December 5th, children put their shoes outside their front doors. During the night, St. Nicholas fills the shoes with presents such as sweets, fruit, and nuts. The character of Santa Claus developed out of this tradition, as did the custom of hanging stockings near the fireplace (instead of braving the cold weather outside).
Also, today marks the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. This eight-day celebration commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple (“Hanukkah” means “dedication”) by the Maccabees, a small group of Jewish fighters who held out against the larger Syrian army, who had invaded and captured the holy site. As you probably know, the story goes that there was only enough oil to light the temple’s menorah for one night. But miraculously, the oil lasted for eight! You can learn more about Hanukkah by clicking here.
May this holy season be continually filled with joy, hope, and new discoveries for you as you make your way to Christmas and the coming of our Lord!
Happy Advent,
Pastor Matt