Post Thanksgiving Thoughts

     I am grateful to report that I survived last Tuesday's colonoscopy, and to my husband's great disappointment, I didn't say anything too wacky when I was on the drugs. 
     We had a wonderful gathering for Thanksgiving which included welcoming home my college daughter and also meeting my niece's boyfriend (poor guy faced the grilling questions of many concerned relatives!).  Today, Monday, December 1, feels like a gun going off for many of us, with only 25 days to prepare our homes, churches, families, and souls, for Christmas.  Our church launched a three-week series yesterday with an initiative titled Prepare.  A team of folks put together a 25 day Advent devotional which you can access by going to the Willow website and following the links to Prepare.  We're hoping that all of us as a community can rally together to get this season right this year by resisting over-commercialism, by engaging our hearts as we extend ourselves to those who are in need, and by not allowing the intense pace of the season to crowd out moments of wonder and reflection.  I realize what a huge challenge it can be for those in worship arts ministries and pastors to navigate this month without feeling overwhelmed.  My prayer for artists and pastors world-wide this month will be that the Prince of Peace will fill you with a deep sense of his Presence and Power as you give so very much to others.