A Note From Kristen
Director of Children's & Youth Ministry
Advent is a time to prepare for the Coming of Christ at Christmas. For some reason, I seem to be more excited about this preparation and about Christmas this year than in years past. Maybe it has something to do with my first Christmas as a permanent employee here at the Community Church or maybe it has to do with spending my first Christmas with my husband and our new family. Whatever may be the reason, I am looking forward to experiencing all of my favorite Advent traditions—all of those traditions that we do in preparation for Christmas, in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival.
One special Christmas tradition in my family began when my sister had her first child nine years ago. My mother, my sister and I began to send each other and the baby a special Christmas tree ornament. This tradition has taken on special meaning for me. Every Christmas, my nieces and nephew take out their box of their very own ornaments and we sit together and tell the stories about where and why we bought those specific ornaments. When Andy and I got engaged, we too began this tradition of purchasing Christmas tree ornaments from all of the special places that we visit. As we decorate our Christmas tree we reminisce about our special vacations that we have shared. It doesn’t seem too matter how often we share these stories, we always laugh and cry at the same moments year after year. I look forward to putting on new ornaments this year, ornaments from our camping trip this summer and from our honeymoon to New England. I can’t wait to share the old stories and to tell the new stories about where we have been in the last year.
I love to hear the story, the same stories over and over again. I can watch the same movies again and again and read the same books over and over. Months ago, as we were planning the Sunday School curriculum, someone asked why we were going to tell the same stories when the kids knew them already. I couldn’t help but think about the Christmas story. After all, it is the same story every year, and yet, every year it is a story full of new hope, new joy and finding peace in our lives. Just because we know how it goes and especially how it ends doesn’t mean that we don’t tell the story. Every time we sit down with our families, whatever that configuration looks like, and we tell the Christmas story, we experience all the emotions that go with that story. What is your favorite part of the story? What part brings a tear to your eye? What part helps you grow closer in your relationship with Christ? Although it is the same story year after year, we often can find new meanings and new parts based on where we are in our lives and our faith journeys. What part is new to you this year? Take a closer look around and see what you may have missed before. As we prepare for the Coming of the Messiah, what is new in the story? As we gather for the Advent and Christmas season, it is a time to share those stories, reminisce with old friends and family, laugh and cry at various moments. Join us at the Community Church as we tell the story again and see if you hear something new for the first time.
Kristen
