“O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!…”

As we journey through Advent, we continue our devotional series featuring various friends from our congregation, pondering their star’s unique name. Each thoughtful reflection points us towards our Savior and fills us with a thrill of hope. Enjoy!

Today’s reflection is from Madison Miller:

Mingle

The word mingle means “to move freely around a place or at a social function, associating with others.” Especially after the solitude of last year, I am looking forward to mingling with loved ones! The word “freely” in that definition stands out to me because the virus still prevents us from feeling completely “free” when interacting with others. Yet we know that in anything we are facing, true freedom comes through Jesus. Better yet, Jesus mingles among us. John 1:14 says “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. Later in the Gospels, after the disciples had locked themselves in a room following Jesus’s death for fear of persecution, Jesus appeared, “stood in their midst and said peace be with you” - John 20:19. Christmas reminds us that Jesus always shows up in the midst of our fears, joys, and heartaches, and He gives us freedom from sin and brings us into communion with other believers. This advent, as you mingle with others, imagine Jesus mingling there in your midst.

Dear God, we love you. Thank you for mingling among us always. Thank you for giving us the gift of your Son. Help us to honor you and to mingle especially with people who need your love and care the most this Christmas season. Amen.