2024 Advent Letter

 My dear friends,

As Advent comes to an end this Christmas Eve, I don’t know where you’re at. Maybe the short days and the busyness have you snapping at each other. It is so discouraging to find out just how much mean there is in my heart still. I don’t know how you’re thinking about 2025—maybe you’re glad and really hopeful for how things are going to go or maybe you’re afraid of what is to come because of circumstances around you and in society. For those of you who are feeling confident and for those of you who are feeling fearful and sad, I want to give you something to give you perspective: there is a gift in the darkness. 

That’s actually what my Christmas Eve homily this year is about. I know, I skipped to the churchy stuff, but go ahead and read the letter. I write to encourage you with the only hope I have: the gift of grace in Jesus Christ. Grace for the days or the years we don’t live up to our own expectations or standards—or the expectations and standards of other people or even (especially) God. God loves us so much that he gave us a gift to tell us that even though we don’t live up—and it’s important, healthy even, to recognize that—we are his beloved. He gave His son as a gift, by sending him into the world—which is what we celebrate at Christmas, we call it the “incarnation”—to live a perfect life for us, to suffer with us because of all the messed-up things and sin in the world (including our own) and to die to pay for our sins on the cross. We can know that we have really been given this gift because Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose again from the dead, body-blood-bones-tonenails-and-hair, really, actually, in space-time history and reality 2000 years ago. Grace is what Titus 3:4–7 (what I’m basing my homily on—that’s a short sermon) is about: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Even if you don’t believe that, it sounds really hopeful, right? At the very least, you understand why so many people find beautiful and hope giving.

FAMILY STUFF

2024 has been a big year for the Martins. I accepted a call to a church in Raleigh, North Carolina, to be their “pastor of equipping.” Kaitlin switched from being an RN at OU Medical to the University of North Carolina Medical, but since then has been offered a full-time position as a professor of nursing at a regional private university called ECPI (I don’t know what that stands for, ha!). Our kids have definitely learned longing, so I think Advent has been especially poigiant for them. We aren’t in Oklahoma near their grandparents anymore, and I doubt we ever will be again. That’s been a big change for them. There’s been a lot of sadness.

But good things too: Abigail has been cast as “the Wicked Witch” in Shrek the Musical for the spring. Jerram has learned the joy of men’s Bible studies. Ezri won a spelling bee. Lorelai has discovered a passion for baking. And Killian got identified in the top 90-some-odd-percent and was taken into the gifted-and-talented program. We’ve also done some hiking, made some fantastic new friends—even some surrogate grandparents and aunts and uncles in the church— and discovered that Raleigh and the Research Triangle just has more to do than we could ever dream. I think we all do love it here, even in the midst of missing family back in Oklahoma. 

So with that, I just want to say that I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I hope you find encouragement for 2025. If there is darkness, I encourage you to draw near to the throne of grace where you will always receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need through Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 4:16)

I am always happy to pray for you. Just email, call, text, Facebook message, or whatever other way I’m forgetting to communicate me. I keep a prayer-to-do list that I work through every day, so please just let me know what I need to be praying for. Thank you for being our friends, and I hope we’ll see you around.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Merry Christmas!

Wes

Pastoral Prayer for 2024.12.22

 Heavenly Father,


O God, Great Shepherd of the flock, lover of our souls, and friend of sinners, you lead your people like a rock. You are enthroned on high. In the darkness, let your glory shine through. Give us salvation, and let your face shine on all who know their desperate need of you.

For those who are depressed, downtrodden, oppressed, hurt, betrayed, saddened by those who are missing, those weighed down by sickness of mind or body, and those who have endured much tragedy and suffering, show your goodness. Regard with your tender compassion those suffering from anxiety, depression, mental illness, or any burden we have named. Bear their sorrows and their cares. Supply all their needs. Help them to put their whole trust and confidence in you, and restore them to strength of mind and cheerfulness of spirit. We lift some of these up to you silently and specifically by name now (…) Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

We thank you, God, that you have come to Bethlehem and to the world in Jesus Christ our Lord. You know suffering with us, for you sent your Son to walk this earth, to be acquainted with grief, and to be the Savior who shepherds us through every difficulty. And now that you have made all the offerings and sacrifices that ever need be made for us to be your children, you continue to give gifts to us—gifts of ministers, servants, and those who labor for your Kingdom.

Bring renewal to our congregation here at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Bless us with a deeper love for you, for one another, and for the community where you have placed us. May we see growth not only in numbers but in faith, hope, and love.

We ask your blessing on the ministries of our denomination and our community. Guide the PCA’s Committee on Discipleship Ministries, and bless Stephen Estock as he serves. Strengthen Village Chapel Presbyterian Church in New Bern, and uphold their pastor, Norm Evans. Bless their ministry to shine the light of Christ in their community.

We lift up Tom Cox and the West Africa Reformed Mission in Sierra Leone. Use their ministry to proclaim the gospel and disciple believers. Provide for their needs and protect them in their work. We also pray for Reformed University Fellowship at Duke University, and Matt Mahla as he ministers to students. Let their witness draw hearts to Jesus during such formative years. Closer to home, bless Reconciliation Church in Knightdale and their pastor, Russell McCutcheon. May they bring the hope of Christ’s reconciliation to their neighbors and beyond.

As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, help us to fix our eyes on him and not be distracted by the rush of the season. Fill our hearts with the joy of Christ and the peace that surpasses understanding. Let this joy overflow, drawing others to know the hope we have in Jesus. We pray for some of those we wish you do draw silently by name now (…)

Lord, as we wait for your promises to be fulfilled, fill us with hope and confidence in your unfailing love. Help us walk in faithfulness, reflecting the light of Christ to a world in need. Let our lives, our words, and our worship testify to the great things you have done for us in Christ. We silently pray for any spcific enouragements we think this congregation needs now (…)

All this we pray through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. And we pray together as Jesus taught us:

“Our Father…”