Date Posted: 2025-12-01 06:20:57 | Video Duration: 01:09:35
Welcome to the vibrant community of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, where hearts are warmed by fellowship, and spirits are uplifted through shared worship. On this first Sunday of Advent, we gather to embark on a journey of reflection and preparation, guided by the timeless message of love and belonging. As we light the first Advent candle, we are reminded of the sacred practice of waiting with hope, anticipating the coming of Christ Jesus, love incarnate.
The Season of Advent: A Lens of Love
Advent, the beginning of the church year, invites us to prepare for Jesus’s coming—not through the hustle of gift-buying and decoration but through a deeper, more spiritual readiness. This season of preparation is aptly themed “The Lens of Love,” encouraging us to view the world through God’s eyes, seeing and embodying love in all its forms. As the pastor shared, “When God sees us, God’s God sees love and God feels love for us.”
This week, we focus on the Greek word “storge,” a foundational form of love that encompasses care for friends, animals, and even those we find challenging to love. It is the steady, familial love that binds us together, transcending mere biological ties. The Apostle Paul’s words in Romans resonate here: “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.”
Love in Action: A Thanksgiving Anecdote
The sermon illustrated “storge” through a poignant Thanksgiving story. The pastor recounted how Jamie, grappling with the loss of his mother, experienced an unexpected moment of grace when a stranger, Kathy, approached him on a beach. Sensing his grief, she offered a simple prayer, embodying the love that God commands us to share with one another. Reflecting on this encounter, the pastor noted, “It felt like my mom sent us an angel on our first Thanksgiving without her.”
This narrative exemplifies how “storge” can manifest in everyday life, reminding us that love need not be grand or costly. It is about presence, noticing, and showing up for others, just as Kathy did for Jamie.
Embracing the Call to Love
During Advent, we are challenged to practice this love within our communities and beyond. The sermon calls us to be like Kathy, to recognize and respond to the needs around us, offering the gift of love that transforms strangers into family. This is the essence of the church’s mission—to love others as Christ loves us, breaking free from the confines of biology and societal divisions.
As we move through Advent, we are encouraged to capture moments of love and share them, fostering a culture of awareness and gratitude. This spiritual discipline helps us to “see the love that is around us all the time,” as the pastor urged. Through these acts, we honor the spirit of Advent, preparing our hearts and minds for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
May this Advent season inspire us to extend “storge” to all, embracing the divine call to love without reservation. As we journey together, let us remember that love is not just an emotion but an action—a commitment to see and serve one another as God’s beloved children.
May you see love everywhere this week, dear friends, and may you be love wherever you go. Amen.
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