From the Pastor's Pen

Dear friends, 

I couldn’t resist sharing this photo with you.  Theo is very curious about all of the holiday decorations.  He is now two and a half, and I am expecting him to show a little restraint when it comes to things he might formerly have stolen and run under the piano with in order to keep the treasured item from the “not so young” people he lives with!  As you can see here, Theo is definitely learning some restraint.  He came forward to sniff but did not abscond with Mary or Joseph!

Still, I love this picture because Theo clearly wants to get very close to these two to see and sniff out just who they are!  We should do so well during Advent.  I hope in this holy season, you are coming close to these two committed people.  I hope you are pondering their story, their challenges, the danger of their decision to do God’s bidding, and their joy at being in the presence of God.  I hope you will come so close that you are tempted to abscond with Mary and Joseph and run away with them.  You have my permission to chew on them (figuratively) and emulate their devotion in this special time of the year.  Be sure you adopt their joy at the presence of God!

Joyfully yours,

Pr. Sally