Pastor Harris, December 2011

Dear Friends of Christ,

Thanksgiving is on my mind. Even though the Day of Thanksgiving will have passed by the time you read this, as I write, the day is still approaching. So I would like to say thank you. Thank you people of Pilgrim for the many kindnesses you have shown me. Thank you for the gifts of meals, treats, and cookies. Thank you for carrying coffee to me so I do not spill on the floor (I am sure our sexton thanks you as well). Thank you for asking how I am doing. Thank you for being flexible when my body decides not to be. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for bringing me to Pilgrim.

We Christians are of people of thanksgiving. We are a people who thank God. All of the time. At least that is how it should be. We have a God who forgives us. We have a God that loves us. We have a God who claims us and adopts us. We have a God who does not give up on us.

We have a God who became flesh. (See, I got to Christmas.) My favorite word for this event is not Christmas, or Nativity, but rather Incarnation. God takes flesh. The wee babe in the manger is God Incarnate. Thank God! Jesus understands what it means to be human. Jesus, the Son of God knows human joys and sadnesses, and how quickly things can change. We have a God that understands our frailty, a God who understands death. Jesus was disappointed by his friends countless times. But he did not give up on them, or on us. Thank God!

We have a God who comes to us (Advent). Jesus came in flesh 2,000 years ago. Jesus will come again on the last day. Jesus comes to us now in water, word, bread, and wine. Jesus is God with us, Immanuel. Thank God!

Blessings,

Pastor Harris