Advent 2021
Happy New Year! We are entering Advent. This Sunday is the 1 st day of the church calendar year. These next Sundays leading to Christmas are our time of waiting for what is called the advent of Jesus. And Advent simply means “Coming.” Jesus is coming. God is coming to earth in a new way – in Jesus –in human flesh. This incarnation, or “enfleshment,” of God makes all the difference.
For the last 3 Sundays at 11 we have gathered for worship in the sanctuary on Omotesando while we simultaneously continue our 11 am Livestream. Being together “in the flesh” is a whole different experience. I delight at the squeals of joy that come from people as they see one another after having been apart for almost two years. To sit together & sing together in person has been inspiring & heartwarming.
I am so proud of our church as many have been so creative to bring the love of Jesus in person to one another while we have been separated. Using Zoom so creatively, even beaming groups into hospital rooms for visits, connecting friends online across oceans and time zones. Those who are more tech-savvy are generously helping those who are less tech-savvy so we can all stay connected. I am here at my home Zoom station where I have had amazing conversations with people – many of you – who have gifted me with your time through the “Meet with the Pastor” function at “TokyoUnion.org”.
But meeting in person, embodied, in the flesh, is a whole different thing. Many people who have come to the sanctuary in the last 3 weeks have never been to the TUC campus before, but they have worshipped with us for 6 to 10 months already (online). And it is such a joy to finally meet in person.
Christmas is when God comes to us in Person in Jesus Christ. And Advent is the season of eager anticipation of Jesus’ coming.
I do so hope in these upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons you will be able to come to the sanctuary to worship Christ who comes, to meet in person with God’s people as we meet in person God in Christ. If you can do it, please come. You will help make our joy complete. And if you cannot do it yet, please continue online, like this, and we will continue to wait and hope – which is what Advent is all about.