It’s hard to believe it’s the 2nd Sunday in Advent already.  Christmas is two weeks away (with Lent just over 8 weeks away…sorry…I just could resist mentioning that little tid bit).  Anyway, there is much to do these next couple weeks.  Today, Connie and I are hosting our annual Christmas open house at the parsonage.  We have been scrambling the past few weeks doing some work in the house trying to get things ready.  Now the day is here and all that is left is to finish cleaning the kitchen.  Whew…

But there are other preparation to be made.  "Prepare the way of the Lord…produce fruit worthy of repentance…"  Those are the words of John the Baptist from our Gospel text for today from Matthew 3:1-12.  John was not a guy to sit around and wait for something to happen, but he got out there and did something.  We too, as recipients of God’s amazing love need to get out there.  Living in God’s amazing grace, go out there and "produce fruit worthy of repentance" and fruit worthy of the gift of life you have been given through Jesus Christ (you can read more about this next week when I post my sermon at my sermons blog).  In the mean time let’s prepare by joining together in prayer.

Loving, gracious and forgiving God…you showed us an awesome love at Christmas time in Jesus Christ.  But as the day of this great miracle approaches, we find ourselves, too often, losing sight of the Gift in the manger stall.  Our work to prepare for Christ is often misdirected and multi-focused.  Because of this amazing news of free grace, we grow complacent thinking everything is done: "eat, drink and be merry" we say.  But everything is NOT done.  Grant us strength and wisdom to produce fruit worthy of repentance; worthy of the gift of salvation you have given us.  Through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord we pray, Amen.

God bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

-edh-