Advent is a significant period in Christianity, marking the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is a time of preparation, reflection, and anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Some key aspects of this important Church season are as follows:

• Spiritual Preparation: Advent is a time for Chrisitans to prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. This involves prayer, meditation, and spiritual reflection.
• Hope and Expectation: The season of Advent is filled with a sense of hope and expectation. It reminds Christians of the hope that Jesus brings into the world and the anticipation of His second coming.
• Repentance and Renewal: Advent is also a time for repentance and renewal. Chrisitans are encouraged to examine their lives, seek forgiveness, and make positive changes.
• Joy and Celebration: While Advent is a time for preparation, it is also a time of joy and celebration. The lighting of the Advent candles, singing of hymns, and other traditions help to build excitement for Christmas.
• Community and Fellowship: Advent brings people together in worship and fellowship. It is a time for communities to come together, support one another, and share in the joy of the season.By observing Advent, Chrisitans can deepen their faith, strengthen their relationship with God, and fully embrace the true meaning of Christmas.

     Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and reflection for Christians around the world. At its heart, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. The most important thing to keep in mind is the message of love, hope, and peace that Jesus brought into this world. It’s a time to remember His teachings and to embody those values in our lives.

     Some key aspects to focus on this Christmas are as follows:

• Love and Compassion: Christmas is a reminder to show love and kindness to others, just as Jesus did.
• Gratitude: Reflect on the blessings in your life, and express gratitude for them.
• Generosity: Share your blessings with those in need, whether through gifts, acts of service, or simply offering your time and support.
• Family and Community: Spend time with loved ones and strengthen your bonds with family and friends.
• Spiritual Reflection: Take time to reflect on your faith and the significance of Jesus’ birth in your spiritual journey.

     By keeping these principles in mind, Chrisitans can celebrate Christmas in a way that honors its true meaning and spreads joy and goodwill to those around them.

     A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university Professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general.

     Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal – some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite.

     Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee. When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering.

     “You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems.”

     He continued…”Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups,,,Then you began eyeing each other’s cups.”

     “Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define  nor change the quality of Life we live. Often, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us.

     God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!”

     The haapiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have…So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the Rest to God.

     And remember –  the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to your and your family from Woodburn Presbyterian Church ! And this Christmas, always remember to give thanks to God for the priceless gift that he gave to all of us – JESUS CHRIST, our savior!

     Jesus had a lot to say about handling stress, worry, and anxiety. Some examples of this are as follows:

1.Trust in God: Jesus often emphasized the importance of trusting in God and not being consumed by worry. In Matthew 6:25-34, He taught that we should not worry about our lives, what we will eat or drink, or about our bodies and what we will wear. Instead, He encouraged us to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness, trusting that our needs will be provided for.

2. Come to Him for Rest: One of Jesus’ most comforting teachings on stress is found in Matthew 11:28-30. He invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, promising that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

3. Living in the Present: Jesus encouraged living in the present moment rather than being anxious about the future. In Matthew 6:34, He said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

     These teachings highlight the importance of faith, prayer, and focussing on the present as ways to manage stress and find peace.

     The Parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37, teaches several profound lessons:

1. Compassion and Mercy: The Samaritan showed compassion and mercy to the injured man, unlike the priest and the Levite who passed by. This highlights the importance of helping others in need, regardless of their background or circumstances.

2. Breaking Social Barriers: At the time, Jews and Samaritans had significant animosity towards each other. By making a Samaritan the hero of the story, Jesus emphasized that love and kindness should transcend social and ethnic boundaries.

3. True Neighborliness: Jesus used this parable to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” He illustrated that a neighbor is anyone who shows mercy and kindness, not just those who are close to us or similar to us.

4. Active Love: The Samaritan didn’t just feel pity, he took action. He bandaged the man’s wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for his care. This teaches that true love involves action and sacrifice.

     These lessons encourage us to show compassion, break down social barriers, and actively help those in need. Have you helped anyone in need lately ?

1. “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.”

2. “Let us keep Christmas beautiful, without a thought of greed, that it might live forevermore, to fill every need. “

3. “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

4. “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be  plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”

5. “For it is in giving that we receive.”

6. “Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”

7. “Christmas is a time when everbody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered.”

8. “You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger.”

9. “Remember, if Christmas isn’t found in your heart, you won’t find it under a tree.”

10. “God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it.”