Joyful Noises

From Heather
My favorite part of the Christmas season is the music. I love to hear the congregation heartily sing "Joy to the World" or "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in worship. There's such a sense of anticipation and happiness. I even enjoy hearing the Salvation Army bell ring over and over again outside the stores! 

Both of my boys love music and made it a part of their lives. Jonah attended the Youth Performing Arts School playing trumpet, and Ben attended singing tenor. Then at their colleges they also sang in their choirs. My favorite memories include holiday concerts, where they sang or played festive songs about the coming of Christ. I will never forget hearing the majestic "Hallelujah Chorus" or even the spirited "Sleigh Ride," as these songs always made me smile and full of hope. 

Our schedules were always hectic during the holidays as we tried to fit in shopping, decorating, concerts, work, church, and family. It was a crazy, busy time. But we were together and had some beautiful moments of music and holiday joy. I miss them and those times, and I cherish the times that we can be together now. The Psalmist calls us in Psalm 100 to "make a joyful noise"- and Advent and Christmas is the perfect time to serve the Lord with gladness! 

May the music of the season bring you joy throughout Advent. And remember that the music from the Grinch tells us, "Christmas Day will always be! Just as long as we have we." Thanks be to God for family, music, and the birth of Jesus!

From Pastor Steve
I will never forget my excitement for Christmas mornings as a child. Excited anticipation led my sister and I to wake up way too early and go to the family Christmas tree. Once there our excitement led us to start playing way too loudly with that year’s presents. This lasted until my parents would make us go back to bed for a couple more hours. Where I would often lie awake unable to sleep from the adrenaline rushing through my body. 

I always tried to remember that excited anticipation when my boys were young. When their excitement for Christmas would wake them up way too early on Christmas morning. 

Christmas can be a busy time. As I’ve gotten older, the excited anticipation for Christmas is often dampened by all that “has” to be done. 

Advent is meant to be a time of excited anticipation. It is a season of anticipation for the birth of the Christ child. My prayer for Christmas each year is that I never forget the excitement of Christmas. 

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the reaction to Christmas from the shepherds. After the angels finished telling them about the birth of baby Jesus and singing glory to God. The shepherds said to one another “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15 NLT

This season may we never forget to greet Christmas with the excited anticipation of the shepherds ready to see all that the Lord has done told us about.