Friends,

It's always a bit jarring in those years when Advent steals upon us before we're even out of November. "Where has the time gone?", many of us are asking ourselves. "We still have leftover turkey in the fridge!"

Advent is always that way: Christ's coming breaks into the familiar world as we know it. It was that way a couple millennia ago, when the news that Mary was expecting a child came suddenly, casting their lives of Joseph and herself into holy turmoil. Surely it will be that way at the end of time, as Jesus returns.

"For there will be great distress on the earth," Jesus predicts. The very "powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Luke 21:23, 26).

There are two ways of expecting something to happen. The first is when we know exactly what to expect. That's the way we like it, generally. No surprises.

But then there's another type of expectancy: waiting for something, we know not what. When expectancy is married to uncertainty, our lives are seasoned with both joy and foreboding.

Yet isn't that our reality, more often than not? Significant portions of our future are swathed in mystery. And mystery doesn't always sit well with us.

The season of Advent embodies this dual meaning of expectancy. On the one hand, we expect the Christmas holiday. That, we know pretty well. As for all those biblical predictions of Christ's return, we're not so sure we're ready for that cosmic disruption, that scattering of everything comfortable and familiar.

Who knows what the future holds? Whatever may happen, this we know for sure: our Lord has promised to be with us always.

This week in worship, we light the first Advent candle in hope and expectation.

CHRISTMAS EVE USHERS NEEDED - We are in need of ushers at the 4:00 p.m, 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m services.  Please call Scott Smith at 732-840-0279 if you are available to usher on Christmas Eve.