Denny Wissinger, the Michigan Conference’s Co-Lay Leader, invites us to embrace the season of Advent as an opportunity to be present as expectant people awaiting Christ’s coming.

DENNY WISSINGER
Co-Lay Leader, Michigan Conference

During this Advent season, key lay leaders within the Michigan Annual Conference have been invited to reflect on themes of preparations, passion, presence, and promise as we wait for Christmas. I will graciously offer my thoughts on the theme of presence.

The third Sunday of Advent is often referred to as Gaudete Sunday, named after the Latin word gaudete, translated into English as “rejoice.” It holds a special place in many congregations, with a gathering full of music, joy, and light as we get closer to the darkest night of the year. Whether your church choir will sing a cantata or special music or your youth will perform a pageant, it’s an opportunity to rejoice musically.

Advent is a time to slow down and intentionally focus on God’s presence. This season encourages us to be aware of God’s presence in our daily lives. It is an invitation to live in the presence of God. What does it mean to live in God’s presence? To me, it means being consciously aware of God’s presence within and around us. Let us not forget that the presence of Jesus brings peace, hope, and a reminder that we are unconditionally loved.

I still vividly remember the Advent seasons of my youth when we looked forward for a month or so in anticipation of and preparation for Christmas pageants. I must admit that speaking parts were not my thing then, and invariably, I always wanted to be a donkey, camel, or any other non-speaking part. In high school, I found that I enjoyed singing, and in later years, I looked forward to performing cantatas with my church choir.

Getting back to the theme of presence, I cannot help but think of the foretelling of Jesus coming into the world in human form as prophesied in the Old Testament and in Luke’s gospel, in which John the Baptizer foretold the Messiah’s coming presence. Luke 3:15-16 states: “Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the one. John answered their questions by saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire’” (NLT).

Jesus’ presence in human form was God incarnate. We fondly ponder the story of Jesus coming into the world as a baby, but I can’t help but wonder why God the Father sent him as an infant. After all, as pointed out in John 1:1-14, Jesus existed with God the Father from the beginning — even before creation. The Father could have sent Jesus into the world as a fully mature man ready to spread the gospel. We do know that God sent Jesus to save the world, display his glory, and show his love.

Of great significance is the presence of the Holy Spirit. With it being part of the Trinity, we know that the Holy Spirit has existed with the Father and Son since the beginning. However, we also know that Jesus made it clear that he would provide his disciples (and us) with a helper, an advocate, after he returned to the Father, as found in John 14:26, 15:26, and 16:7. We, as the Father’s children, have the Holy Spirit within us. It is there for us. All we have to do is invite it to work within us in fulfilling our mission of serving God and others.

I am especially grateful for having had the privilege to share the presence of so many members of the extended United Methodist Church. They have truly been an inspiration for all they do to serve. In the short time I have been your co-lay leader, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work closely with many conference staff members and agencies in fulfilling our mission as the Michigan Conference. I have been truly blessed to experience at work the vow we have taken to support our church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

On this third Sunday of Advent, I encourage you to focus on the traditions you enjoyed in the past in your church and community. That is part of what presence is about — being in the moment and honoring who we are, past, present, and future. Is the Holy Spirit present in our lives as we anticipate the coming of Christ? Advent is not something we can keep to ourselves. It proclaims that we are to live in a way that issues an invitation, a call to a new way of living, and a new way of being, keeping in mind that it begins with being present to and with one another.

My prayer for you is that we open our ears, minds, hearts, and understandings of the significance of standing in the presence of the one who came before us, is with us now, and will be there for us through eternity in God’s kingdom. Let us strive to serve God and our neighbors more faithfully with our spiritual gifts, talents, and utmost abilities.

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Last Updated on December 12, 2024