Wayne Street UMCWayne Street UMC

CALL: 419.394.3615
  • EVENTS
Menu
  • Welcome
    • peopleFIRST EXPERIENCE
      • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
      • MEET THE STAFF
    • clock iconSERVICES
      • FIRST LIGHT
      • AWAKEN
      • WOW CHILDREN’S WORSHIP
  • Connect
    • group of peopleSMALL GROUPS
      • CELEBRATE RECOVERY
      • C.O.O.L. WORSHIP
      • YOUTH GROUP
      • MISSION KIDS
      • CHANCEL CHOIR PRACTICE
      • SEWING GROUP
      • AWAKEN BAND PRACTICE
      • FELLOWSHIP/SUNDAY SCHOOL HOUR
      • W.I.L.L. GROUP
    • Our MissionsMISSIONS
      • OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
      • HELPERS
      • FAMILY LIFE
      • CRU
      • HIS HOUSE
      • SPIRIT LAKE MINISTRY
      • HENDERSON SETTLEMENT
      • SOUP KITCHEN
    • VolunteerVOLUNTEER
      • SIGN UP
  • Resources
    • pencil writingBLOG
      • ANNOUNCEMENTS
      • FEATURED POSTS
      • CHRISTIAN LIVING TODAY
      • C.O.O.L. WORSHIP
      • DISCIPLESHIP
      • FAMILIES
      • BIBLE
      • MEDIA, MOVIES & BOOKS
      • SUNDAY SCHOOL
    • video recorderVIDEOS
      • SERMON VIDEOS
  • CONTACT
SEND A PRAYER REQUESTMAKE A DONATION
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Christian Living Today
  • Peace of Christ

Monday, December 02, 2019 / Published in Christian Living Today, Featured Posts

Peace of Christ

This is Pastor Tim’s article as published in the Evening Leader on Dec 2, 2019.

We have arrived at the time of the year known as Advent.  It is the time of the year when we are lighting candles and counting down the weeks until we celebrate the birth of Jesus at a little holiday known as Christmas.  Even though churches always have readings that accompany the lighting of the candles, it has been my experience that not everyone listens to those readings.  So I want to use the rest of my articles between now and Christmas to share what those candles on the Advent wreath mean.  Each of these candles are lit to remind us of one part of the Christmas story.  It will help us focus on what is really important as we seek to keep Christ in CHRISTmas.

 

The first candle represents peace, which is, when you really think about it, is almost funny.  We have this sort of rosy Hallmark-like idea of Christmas.  Does that match any of your experiences of this season?  In our quest for the perfect gift, the perfect cookie, the perfect ugly Christmas sweater and the perfect card to send to your in-laws who live out of state, does anyone have time for this mysterious peace experience?

 

That is why we misunderstand peace.  We think it happens in a vacuum.  It does not.  In the way our lives are today, any space that is left over is filled with ringing phones, text messages, Facebook, the next obligation we are already late for.  We believe there will be peace as soon as “this” is done.  What is that great “this” that is destroying everyone’s peace?  Who knows?  It is a different “this” every day.

 

If we are waiting for life to just make space for peace, then we won’t live long enough for that to happen.  There are way too many “thises” (thises is plural of this) to allow enough space for peace to happen.  You have a ton of “this” today, you will have a whole bunch more “this” tomorrow.  So take it from a guy who has spent his life on his last “this” only to find out there is no end to the long line of “this” in the world.  There will always be one more thing to do, one more goal to accomplish and one more task to complete.  To have any delusion that you are going to get enough done that peace will automatically happen is to be chasing peace while running on a treadmill.

 

As counterintuitive as it sounds, peace isn’t something that comes to us naturally.  Peace is something we have to pursue.  We have to go after peace and claim it for ourselves.  The world isn’t going to let up.  We have many examples of Jesus taking a moment to step away in order to have some peace, because Jesus knew the Truth in more ways than one.  He knew the Truth that peace was never going to naturally roll down to Him.  If He wanted to have some peace, He had to go out and claim it, which is exactly what He did.

 

So our Advent journey begins.  If you are waiting for peace to just happen, for everything and everyone to no longer place demands on you, then you will have no peace until you rest in peace.  Life doesn’t work that way.  Peace is something we have to claim.  That is why we light this first candle on the Advent wreath.  We are beginning this journey toward Christmas by declaring that, in the midst of the insanity of our normal lives that will be added to by the craziness of the holiday season, we will not miss the chance to have some peace, to give our minds a chance to quiet down and our hearts a chance to achieve a resting heart rate.

 

Are there a lot of things to do during this season?  Of course there are, and they are all important.  We will have to make choices about what can be done and what will be done.  But keep that first candle in the Advent wreath in your mind.  One of the most important parts of this season is peace and, if you go from now until New Years Day running at a sprinters pace, you will have missed one of the most important components of this sacred and wonderful holiday season.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • The Bible

    This is Pastor Tim’s article that appeare...
  • calendar with events

    Weekly Bulletin 1/22/23

    Bulletin for Janurary 22nd...
  • Where is everyone?

    This is Pastor Tim’s Article which appear...
  • calendar with events

    Bulletin for 1/15

    Janurary 15th Bulletin...
  • School Bridge

    This is Pastor Tim’s article which appear...

Categories

  • Announcements
  • Bible
  • C.O.O.L. Worship
  • Christian Living Today
  • Discipleship
  • Families
  • Featured Posts
  • First Light Service
  • Media, Movies & Books
  • Mission
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Spirit, Mind, Body & Relationships
  • Videos
  • World Events & Headlines

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019

Sign up for our enewsletter to get news, updates and observations about daily living from Pastor Tim.

Wayne Street UMC Love God. Love People. Change The World.

130 North Wayne Street   |    St. Marys, Ohio 45885

130 North Wayne Street
St. Marys, Ohio 45885

Phone: 419.394.3615
Fax: 419.394.6919

WELCOME

First Experience

Services

CONNECT

Small Groups

RESOURCES

Blog

Videos

© 2021 Wayne Street UMC | Privacy Policy | Site Map

TOP
Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • Log In
  • Promoter
  • Events
    • View Calendar