Receiving the Invitation

As we prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I’ve been thinking a lot about family expectations and social expectations. Holidays often come with a wide variety of internal voices telling us “you should do this” or “you should’ve said that.” It’s hardest when these internalized voices now come in our own voice instead of those who introduced those family and social expectations. I have a friend that says it’s me “should-ing all over myself.”

The beauty of the Christian story is that it’s different that many typical family and social norms. When God came to be with us as Jesus, the relationship with God became invitational. It became a story to opt-in to instead of one one you’re obligated to be a part of. Mary committed up front, but the rest of us…the Josephs who know society will shudder when they learn the story, the shepherds who have been told time and again you are not worthy, the wise people who have everything they could ever desire and still seek something more, the animals who are simply curious about what is going on…the rest of us have been invited to opt-in to the story of Jesus or to watch from the peripheral. It’s an invitation that we can choose to accept or decline.

I don’t know that I was raised to understand my faith and relationship with God as a choice, and yet as an adult in may be one of the most powerful cornerstones of my faith. God lets me be in relationship, a relationship that comes with ups and downs, comfort, misunderstandings, reconciliation, and more. There isn’t shame or guilt when I decline the invitation, but I know there is unlimited grace and love in all of the experiences of the relationship.

As we journey into the final hours of Advent, I, too, want to extend an invitation. It is an open invitation without expectation. It is an invitation to come together with others who are wrestling with their relationship with God - some will wonder what others will think, some will wonder if a faith community is the place for them, others may feel this is the one thing missing from their life, and others still may be uncertain what the story of Jesus is all about. Regardless, Louisville United Methodist Church will be a safe space for you and for all, and we will lift up praise and thanksgiving for God’s willingness to come be with us in new and exciting ways.

You and your family, you and your friends, you and your neighbors are all invited to come to the Louisville UMC church building on Tuesday night. There will be singing and silence as we explore God’s invitation to be in relationship through the teachings of Jesus and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Please feel free to forward this email to any who may be open to an invitation of their own.

Peace be with you,
Rev Elizabeth