Once we change our clocks and return to Eastern Standard Time, a growing darkness will swallow up the sun’s rays a little earlier each evening. While we will miss the long sunny evenings, we are enchanted by the night sky and its stars. As the psalmist wrote,

“The Lord determines the number of the stars and calls each of them by name.”
-Psalm 147:4

As we journey through Advent, we will gaze at the stars and hear from various friends from our congregation, pondering their star’s unique name. Each thoughtful reflection will help us all see Advent and Christmas in new light. Enjoy!

Today’s reflection is from Amanda Heintzelman:

Embrace

Let’s start with confession, I am a hugger. Just like Olaf the snowman from the movie Frozen, “I LOVE warm hugs”, and this pandemic situation, with its physical distancing, has been HARD.

Embracing is accepting the other in fullness and complexity, and an embrace is the antithesis of exclusion. An embrace communicates more clearly than words that you are not alone; you are welcome here no matter what. Advent and Christmas are the story of God’s ultimate embrace of humanity. We are not alone; “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son...”- John 3:16 We are embraced by our creator, and no one is excluded from His plan for redemption.

Dear God, thank you for embracing us and for welcoming us with arms wide open. Thank you for sending Jesus, Immanuel, to remind us that you are with us always. Help us to fully accept Your embrace and to embrace one another in return. Amen.