Atlantic District Publications

Letters from the President - With Great Anticipation

December 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Compare Advent hymns with some of the old favorite Christmas carols: "Deck the Halls with boughs of holly, falalalalalalalala" moves from the living room dramatically inward, toward the heart - "Redeemer, come and open wide my heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide! O enter with Thy grace divine; Thy face of mercy on me shine." And with Martin Luther, I have no problem with outward preparations - why would we NOT want to deck the halls with boughs of (non-poison) ivy? In that regard our parish preparations fit right in with those of the consumer culture around us. So be it.

But down deep, heart-deep, something else is being prepared, something else of true and lasting excitement is taking place. My spirit is being renewed and refreshed by the Holy Spirit.

We are knee-deep in budgets and planning at the Atlantic District. We've been listening, reacting, reflecting and anticipating as best we can the future God has in store for us. We've prepared for our pastors and parishes and schools a pretty well-thought-out schematic for revitalizing existing ministries even as we move out in new directions. But none of it is about methodology. We're not Methodists, after all. We're Lutheran. And we depend solely and completely on the grace and mercy of God to enlighten our hearts. That is the location of the riches of the mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

So with great anticipation we pray, "Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, make thee a bed soft, undefiled within my heart, that it may be a quiet chamber, kept for Thee." Advent blessings to each and all!