A Note from Pastor Shelly

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

This verse, “Let your light so shine . . .” from Jesus’ sermon on the mount serves as our mission statement here at Our Savior Lutheran Church. This verse is also one many of us may have heard for the first time at our baptism. It is our first call to be God’s people in the world. And since it is a call many heard first as infants it demonstrates that God is confident of our ability to “shine” his love even before we knew it, before we could even hold our heads up on our own! We affirm and re-accept this call all throughout our Christian lives.

This verse from Matthew’s Gospel always stands out even more to me as our days get darker and as our nights get longer, and we are more aware of our need of light. The darker days of course coincide for us with the celebration of Christ’s birth. And we are reminded again of our need for His light.

So may this Advent and Christmas season be for you a time of knowing Christ’s light. May you see Christ’s light in the face of infants, young ones, old ones, friends, strangers, and in yourself. We hope you will see this light reflected here at Our Savior through the many good things that surround this season. Our children dressed up in their angel and shepherd costumes and singing softly, “Away in a Manger” or shouting out “Go Tell it On the Mountain.” Or you will see this light if you happen to catch the Youth Group kids on their night of caroling around the community or on the night they do Christmas shopping and then gift wrapping for other children in the community who are in need.

May you see Christ’s light reflected in all of the faces of those who squeeze into the sanctuary on Christmas Eve. (And may the crowds make us rejoice, that so many gather together on this night to praise Christ’s entering our world!) You will see Christ’s light reflected in those serving and receiving a delicious Christmas meal on Christmas Day for the Home Alone Dinner. May there be countless other ways that you see Christ’s light in this season.

And in this coming season of darker days and longer nights, may we not only see Christ’s light around us breaking through the darkness of our days and our world, but may we also live out God’s first call to us, “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Together in Christ’s light and love,

Pastor Shelly