Dear CCPC Family,

"Therefore, keep awake -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come,
in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow,
or at dawn, or else that one may find you asleep when they come suddenly.
And what I say to you I say to all:
Keep awake!"
-Mark 13:37

Keep awake! Anyone working the third shift recognizes this directive. Keep awake! After all, you never know. You never know when you might be needed. You never know when something important might happen. And, of course, you never know when the boss might walk through the door. So keep awake!

Jesus uses this language to talk about the coming of God into our world -- perhaps even about the end of human history as we know it. While third-shift workers might fear the repercussions of falling asleep, the Gospel writer has a different perspective. Keep awake! Don't be found asleep! You don't want to miss this! There is an excitement and a comfort in Jesus' words. God is indeed doing a new thing in your midst, and you need to be a part of it. Don't sleep-walk through life, but be awake!

The truth we celebrate during Advent is that God comes into our world in a precious and unique way in Jesus Christ. Even more amazing, God continues to move in power and in Spirit into lives and families and communities all of the time. But if we are focused on the tedium of life... if we are focused on how we have been wronged... if we are focused on the disappointments and diversions of our days, we miss the Advent of God around us. The Psalmist knew this. Psalm 130 says:

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and His word I hope;
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
More than watchmen for the morning.

Just as a night guard standing on the wall of the "Old City" Jerusalem might strain to see the beauty of morning sun's first ray -- the Advent journey calls each of us to strain our eyes, to search the horizon, to live awake, sober, and eagerly watching for God's surprising presence in our midst. Keep awake! Don't miss what God is saying and what God is doing in your life and the lives of those around you!

Loving and Moving God, slow us down during this season.
Help us to be truly awake to Your presence and Your activity around us.
Cause us to stop... to listen... to watch and to wait for You.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

-Dr. Stacy L. Ikard
Associate Pastor