“Love Has Come” (ELW 292)
Devotion
The text for today's hymn cannot be published due to copyright limitations. We apologize for the inconvenience.
My first call to serve as a pastor was to campground ministry in Grand Teton National Park. It was my responsibility to plan and host worship services in the Jenny Lake Campground every summer Sunday. The other six days of the week I worked in housekeeping at Jenny Lake Lodge. When the calendar turned to August, returning employees started talking about the annual Christmas party. They explained that years earlier there had been a big snowstorm in the park on August 24, and so employees decided to have a Christmas party with dinner and gifts. The tradition continued. That summer, we resort workers also decided to enjoy a "Christmas Eve" worship service together, complete with carols and candlelight. It was a blessed reminder that the Good News that "Love has come and never will leave us," is too good to be reserved for just one season of the year!
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for coming to us in love to shine light in our darkness at Christmas and in every season of the year. Amen.