Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Last night as Laura and I were putting our kids to bed, I looked out the window and was surprised to see how dark the evening had become. It seems our journey toward the winter solstice is becoming more and more noticeable as the days become shorter and shorter. I was reflecting on the darkness of the evening and was trying to recall some facts I had learned once about our galaxy. With some help from NASA’s website, here is what I came up with.

• The galaxy we live in (the Milky Way Galaxy) is made up of other galaxies that our galaxy has consumed, and, in fact, the Milky Way is still consuming other galaxies.

• Even though the Milky Way Galaxy is an averaged-sized galaxy, it has over 200 billion stars in it!

• On average, each of the 200 billion stars in our galaxy has at least one planet orbiting it.

Those facts are mesmerizing and awe-inducing, and they also cause me to think about how light is used as a metaphor for Christ throughout the Bible. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” In 1 John 1:5, we’re told that “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.” And similarly, we’re told that because of our relationship with Christ, we ourselves are light. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says about us, “You are the light of the world.” In Ephesians 5:8, were are told that “you were once darkness, but now, in the Lord, you are light.”

Our minds sometimes trick us into believing that whatever is true for us at any given moment must be true everywhere and forever. When we feel discouraged and defeated, we may feel like saying, “I guess my life is a failure.” When we feel isolated and alone, we may feel like saying, “My life is destined for loneliness.” When we feel overwhelmed and oppressed, we may feel like saying, “There is no escape from the pressure.” But there is another way…

It’s going to start looking dark outside tonight around 7:00. It may feel like the darkness will stay forever, but let me remind you. There are 200 billion other suns in our galaxy that are shining their lights down on you! Our own sun is shining its light on the other side of the world, and, as surely as the sun will rise in the morning, God’s love and mercy are new every morning. Shine your own light into someone else’s darkness, and know that God’s light shines down on you. You are never alone.

Here are the words of a beautiful and ancient hymn called Phos Hilaron (“The Light that Gladdens”), originally written in Koine Greek but translated into English.

O radiant light, O sun divine,
Of God the Father's deathless face,
O image of the light sublime
That fills the heavenly dwelling place.

O Son of God, the source of life,
Praise is your due by night and day.
Our happy lips must raise the strain
of your esteemed and splendid name.

Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,
As shine the lights of eventide,
We praise the Father with the Son,
The Spirit blest and with them one.

Remember the light of God, my friends!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron