I have always liked the fact that the church year ends and begins again before the calendar year does.
We all know what’s expected of us as we go from one calendar year into another. We will make resolutions (that we hope we’ll be able to keep) to try make the next year even better.
But what is expected of us as we go from one liturgical church year into another?
Before we get too focused on, “What will I do for ‘me’ in the new year,” we are able to focus on, “What is God doing for me now” instead. To me, the fact that the church’s new year comes about a month before the calendar’s new year is a gift in itself.
This is the perfect time to remember that the best gift we can ever hope to get (and we have already received it) is the gift of God’s Son. Knowing that, I just know it’s going to be a great new year!
This message is an excerpt from a Nov. 26, 2012, Women of the ELCA blog by Kris Brugamyer. Download Women of the ELCA’s Advent resources to start the new church year off in a meaningful way. Today is the first Sunday of Advent. The readings are Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44.
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