Roy’s Ramblings

So by the time you are reading this – we have had our fill of turkey and all the fixin’s … we have heard the same stories told by cousin Fred each year – we have probably seen a little football action – we’ve re-connected with family and friends we only see at holidays and funerals and possibly we are home again after the “Black Friday Marathon”.

Did we all remember to give thanks? To remember the blessings from God? To pause … and just be for a moment? I pray that you were able to relax a little and to recharge some too.

But Wait There’s More!!  (Said in my best Billy Mays / Late Night Home Shopping Network Voice)

What about Small Business Saturday – where we support the small business owners and shops (especially here in Nashville)? What about Cyber Monday – where we have been filling our online shopping carts just waiting for the price to drop so we can hit “Submit Order”? What about Giving Tuesday where we give abundantly to our favorite charities so that they can continue for yet another year (BTW don’t forget Nashville UMC in that one)? It seems like this weekend, coming into the start of Advent, just goes and goes.

But, in all of that I see something that is missing … do you see it? What about “Attend the Church of Your Choice Sunday”? I never see that one put into any meme, or commercial, or ad, or anywhere. It’s sad really that the start of Advent is forgotten by so many. Oh, I know – many of us still have family members hanging out in the spare room. Some of us are out of town visiting family or friends. And some of us are just too exhausted from the cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and just surviving the past three days. I get it – I really do. Advent and Christmas is like the church Super-Bowl. Getting ready, checking details, hanging greens, preparing services, getting volunteers, end of year activities, paperwork, reports, etc. etc. etc.

So let me invite you to slow down and take it easy. If you feel led to bring all of your family to church this Sunday … ALL are always welcome (in fact they can hang a wreath or assemble a tree after church with all the gang as we deck the halls), but do not feel pressured. Any one of us can only do what we can do and that is good enough for God. We are not called to try to keep up with our neighbors – or even to do all that we once were able to do. Just do your best with all that is going on in this season (physically, mentally, and emotionally). You are blessed and a blessing. Just wanted you all to know that.

Happy Post Thanksgiving – Happy Advent – and may we all look forward to a Very Merry Christmas!!

Pastor Roy