Welcome!
While driving through Conneaut Lake last Monday night, my children and I drank in the beauty of the Trees of Light around the lake. What a magnificent sight! My daughter pointed out a gorgeous turquoise tree while my son and I gazed at cobalt and emerald trees. It was truly spectacular.
I drove through Conneaut Lake again on Wednesday afternoon and observed that the trees, which shine as a magnificent Christmas symbols at night, look like bare polls during daytime. I couldn’t see in sunshine what glowed so beautifully in darkness.
This experience reminded me that sometimes it takes a dark season to reveal something beautiful. Christmas decorations are great examples of this. If it is always sunny, I can’t enjoy the lights on my Christmas tree. I can’t see the moonlight on snow or enjoy the radiance of Christmas lights on neighbors’ houses. Christmas candles aren’t as pretty when burning during the daytime.
The star that shone during the Wise Men’s journey to Bethlehem may have glowed all day, but it was only visible at night. The supernatural light of that star enticed the Wise Men to follow it. We have no Biblical evidence that anyone else paid attention to the star. But the Magi noticed it. They paid close attention. These men, noted for great wisdom, did not fail to see and follow this extraordinary light, knowing it led to something worth following.
We, of course, know it led to Someone worth following. Jesus called himself the Light of the World. The star was the first sign of the light He brought to the world.
If you’re walking through a dark season, draw near to the Light of the World. He will hold your hand and walk with you. Drawing nearer to God in prayer and Bible reading will illuminate your dark season, too.
God can also use others to help you through dark seasons. The support of friends and family might be the light in your darkness. We all have experienced dark times in our lives. But we may learn something beautiful as a result.
And maybe God has a bigger purpose in mind. Maybe you’ll become sensitive to those who are experiencing or have experienced what you’re struggling with and develop a ministry for those people.
Darkness sometimes shows beauty we cannot see in daylight. So enjoy the lights of Christmas. Remember the star. Remember Jesus’ birth during this Christmas season. And remember that what is nearly invisible during the daytime shines brightly in darkness.
Fallowfield United Methodist Church is hosting another youth night on Sunday, December 11, at 6 p.m. at the church. We are hoping to rebuild our youth program. Parents and families are invited. Cookies and coffee will be available. You are welcome to bring the children and teens in your life to our church for this event.
Fallowfield is having a Christmas program on Sunday, December 18, at 6:30 p.m. Church members will sing, play musical instruments, read Bible verses or poetry, and share other talents. It’s always a beautiful evening of music and worship. We will sing hymns as a congregation, too.
Fallowfield church members will also go Christmas caroling at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 19. We’ll meet at the church at 5:30 p.m. and sing to shut-ins and those who are ill in our community. It’s always an uplifting experience. Those we sing to always appreciate our visits. Afterward we have cookies and hot chocolate at the church. Join us!
Fallowfield’s Christmas Eve service is at 7 p.m. If you don’t have a church family, please join us. We’d love to meet you.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!