Happy Easter! American culture has almost completely secularized the celebration of Christmas. Our commercialized society takes us from “Turkey Day” (Thanksgiving) to “the Holidays” with little or no serious attention given to the birth of the Messiah!

Let’s face it: We are a people living and dying in ever increasing numbers in a society that reeks of violence, especially gun violence. In other years, a large swath of society has been called the “silent majority.”

We have entered into the Season of Advent, the beginning of a new year in the church when we are all expectantly waiting for Christmas. Many people are waiting for something specific to happen: a family that has a child with cancer awaits test results; another family stands vigil while an elder begins the journey home.