Advent Devotional – 12.27.2021
Greg Graham
1 Chronicles 22:19 – Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.
Without giving away our ages, I’ll tell you that my wife and I are big fans of Pat Benatar. We’ve enjoyed seeing her, and her husband Neil Giraldo, in concert several times. Every time we’ve seen them live, the show is always the same – the songs, the set list and the playful banter in between. And we love it.
The couple admits to having a “Holy 13” – thirteen of their most popular hits that their fans insist must be played at every concert. If they neglect to include one of the “13,” they face the consequences on social media the following day. Though you might call it predictable, Pat and Neil admit it ensures great loyalty from their fanbase. And it makes for an easy gig.
Advent at Blue Grass is very similar. There exists a list of favorite Christmas hymns that we must include throughout the season. Subtle variation is allowed, but excluding any of them is not an option. Trust me. (Insert smiley-faced emoji HERE)
But while the “set list” rarely changes throughout the Advent season, the place where we sing these beloved songs has changed a bit in the twenty-plus years I’ve served Blue Grass.
First, we were in the chapel. What a wonderfully warm and inviting space. But then there was the Christmas Eve when Doug and I noticed a young family – whom we’d never met – enter the back of the chapel only to realize there was no room for their family. They turned and left.
The very next year, we began having Christmas Eve services in the gym. While it lacked the warmth of the chapel (literally and figuratively), it provided significantly more room for us to welcome those hoping to celebrate Jesus’ birth. You see, welcoming those who seek Christ has always been at the core of who we are.
For eight years now, we’ve celebrated at our Main Campus Worship Center. This beautiful space allows us to welcome more and more people while hopefully retaining the tradition that people long for during this time of year. But beyond the songs, the decorations and the singing of Silent Night while we light our candles, our greatest tradition at Blue Grass is what sets us apart from Pat and Neil.
We aren’t looking for fans. We’re here to provide a welcoming spirit for those seeking Christ. During Advent, and the rest of the year, I trust that will never change.