Message from Pastor Pete  

On Monday I made 'the list.' I've checked it twice...but it has nothing to do with naughtiness! This is the cleaning list! We're hosting Shannon's side of the family this year, and that means our house will hold 11 people, including two 1 ½ year olds and two pregnant women. Our house was in pretty good shape...but not good enough for a couple busy little kids! Every day I've gotten a few things off the list: cleaning showers, cleaning floors, washing towels, dusting, moving knick-knacks, baking Christmas cookies... I don't want to get rushed at the end. When everyone shows up on Saturday I'll be fully ready. If I raced around like a maniac on Friday night I'd wear myself out and wouldn't fully enjoy the Christmas weekend.   I've put a lot of time and planning into getting organized, but in just a few days I'll be ready. I'm looking forward to spending time with people I enjoy. I don't want a messy house to get in the way of that! It's nearly time to welcome a houseful of people into my home. Only a couple days to go.

Last week at Peace I began a different list: things to get done before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services. Every day I've gotten a few things off the list: sermons to write, songs to choose, orders of service to organize... I don't want to get rushed at the end. When everyone shows up on Saturday I'll be fully ready. If I run around like a maniac at the last minute I'll wear myself out and won't fully enjoy the worship services. I've put a lot of time and planning into getting organized, but in just a few days I'll be ready. I'm looking forward to celebrating Jesus' birth with people I enjoy. It's nearly time to welcome a crowd of people into our new church home. Only a couple days to go.

Amid all the planning...all the organizing...and the preparing...on Saturday we'll once again celebrate God coming to earth to live among us. I'm rushing around getting ready for the celebration. It's time to add a few things to 'the list:' some quiet time in prayer...some time reading Scripture...singing Christmas carols with the youth. Getting ready for Jesus simply involves nurturing the relationship that God desires for me. It's nearly time to welcome Jesus into our world...and our lives. Only a couple days to go.