The Light

John 1: 1-5

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and

the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things

came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into

being. What has come into being [4] in him was life, and the life was

the light of all people. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the

darkness did not overcome it.

Light.

The Light.

Do you have a center candle on your advent wreath that you light this Christmas season?

Do you put it away at the end of the Christmas season?

Whenever two or more are gathered in God's name, Christ is there.  I encourage you to keep your Christ candle out during the year and light this candle to acknowledge Christ's presence with you.  This small, intentional step will help you be aware of Christ's presence.

Last fall my small group began a study on the Beatitudes.  This study is part of the Companions in Christ series.  Each week when we open our time together, we light a candle to acknowledge Christ's presence with us.  At the end of the hour, we always take time to reflect on our time together, and one of our group members shared, "Why have we waited until now to light a candle for Christ?  I think this is the most meaningful meeting we have ever shared together."

As we encounter the first full work week of the new year and the children begin to go back to school, I encourage you to keep lighting your Christ candle, intentionally acknowledging the Spirit here with us.

Shalom.