The HeBrews Blog
The High School Youth Ministry for First Presbyterian Church of Salina, Kansas
Don't try to adjust your phone, tablet, or computer: yes, the text on this blog is purple. That has nothing to do with the college team I root for. Instead, it's a way for me to say, "Welcome to Advent!" During Advent and Lent, we are in seasons of preparation. Many churches use purple to symbolize such seasons. So you'll see that in the sanctuary beginning on Sunday with the paraments (the cloth hanging off the pulpit). And you'll see it here for the next few weeks. Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. The most common way to think about this is we are preparing for Christmas - the celebration of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. As we said at Mokas this morning, it means much more than that. Advent is also about preparing for the return of Christ to make all things new. It's about the hope we have in Christ to bring about peace, joy, and love on earth as it is in heaven. That's a hope we have even when we can't see peace, joy, and love all around us on earth. And it's about what we can do as we wait for that hope to become reality. This morning, you all said that helping others is one of the ways we can prepare for Christ's return. Please don't just make that be a lofty goal that sounds great but doesn't actually happen. Give it a try. Think about how much better of a world we would live in if everyone tried to help others. How can we all do our own part to make that a reality? Just like many of you were this morning, I'm exhausted. I'd love to write more about Advent on the blog today. But I don't have it in me right now. I did write something about Advent in this month's FPC newsletter, which was just published this morning. Charlie wrote an article about Advent, too. Click here to check them out (pp. 3-4). I'm sure we will talk more about Advent over the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, let's all try to take good care of ourselves and get some rest. I really appreciate the dedication you all have to meeting and growing in your faith through HeBrews even with everything else that goes on in your lives. Trying to grow in your faith is a great priority to have. It can bring that hope, peace, joy, and love in your life that everything else around you seems to lack. I know it has done that for me. It is a joy for me to join each of you on your faith journey! Thank you for that privilege! Also, we will have a high school Christmas party after worship at the church on Sunday, December 16. There will be lunch, games, music, and a white elephant gift exchange. We hope to see you there! ----- My door is always open. My phone is always on. If you ever need to talk or want to talk ... if you ever need to pray or want to pray ... if you ever need help or want help ... let me know. My prayer for you, always, comes from the words of Ephesians 3:14-21. May you always be rooted and grounded in the sure knowledge that God loves you more than you could ever know. The grace of Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit gives us strength and guidance that will never leave us. Grace and peace be with you.
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About HeBrewsHeBrews meets on Thursday mornings during the school year from 6:45 - 7:30 a.m. at the Mokas on Crawford St. All high school youth are welcome! ArchivesCategories |