Happy First Sunday of Advent, Happy New Year, and Happy Christmas!
First Sunday of Advent Reflections: We have spent a lot of time looking at Christmas and its various themes in two of my other blog posts; "'Angels we Have Hear On High' Angel Statues at JFC" and "The Rising of The Moon Book 2: Faith, Hope, and Love." We even looked at Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans outlawing Christmas in England in the 1600's in "Thanksgiving and the Puritans" and I complained about this rightfully so. Now we need to look at the Season of Advent and in particular the First Sunday of Advent. Advent is the beginning of a New Church Year, so Happy New Year!
During the Season of Advent, we celebrate Jesus' Coming into our old sinful world to liberate us from death, Hell, Satan, Satan's demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and our own personal sins. Jesus came to save you and me. Jesus was on a Holy Mission for the Salvation of every single person. Jesus atoned for the sins of every single person and He therefore objectively justified every single person. Once a sinner experiences water Baptism, believes, that Jesus died to save them from their sins, and confesses the Holy Trinity to be the One True God, then that sinner is subjectively justified.
On the First Sunday of Advent, we celebrate Jesus' Triumphant Entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem. Jesus was on a Holy Crusade against Satan and Satan's demons for your soul and spirit on Palm Sunday. Jesus won that Holy Crusade on Good Friday and Easter Sunday and He opened the Doors to Heaven for all people. However, sadly not everyone believes the Gospel or experiences water Baptism and they reject the Triune God. Sadly some Christians even lose their Salvation by willfully rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Love, Grace, and Mercy of Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Sadly apostates chose the fires of Hell and damnation over Love, Grace, and Mercy.
Let us look at Matthew 21:1-11, "21 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, 'Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, 'The Lord hath need of them;'' and straightway He will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, '5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion (Zion), Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.' 6 And the disciples went and did, as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes, that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He, That cometh in the Name of the LORD; Hosanna in the highest.' 10 And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, 'Who is this?' 11 And the multitude said, 'This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee'" (KJV 1611).
Christmas Tree Festival 2019: I will again have my slim Christmas Tree set up at the 2019 Allen County Museum Christmas Tree Festival at the Allen County Museum at 620 W. Market Street in Lima, Ohio. My slim Christmas Tree will again have all green lights on it and it shall also have Irish decorations on it. I plan on standing next to my Christmas Tree singing Christmas Carols in English, German, and Latin at random times during the festival, but I will try to be there once a day. The Christmas Tree Festival is a totally FREE event, but donations to the museum are greatly appreciated. The 2019 Christmas Tree Festival will be celebrated at the Allen County Museum from Wednesday December 4, 2019 to Sunday December 8, 2019. The festival hours will be Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Friday 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday noon to 5 PM.
Stores Carrying My Books: My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, Wagner’s IGA Grocery Store in Minster, Ohio, in the Book Mart section of ohiobookmart.com , and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .
Thank you and Happy Christmas!
James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)