Churches

Christ Episcopal Church, Delaware Street, Forest City warmly invites the community to join us for our Christmas service on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, beginning at 5:00pm. This festive gathering will feature an inspiring message celebrating the birth of Christ.

Highlights of the service include: Beautiful Music; Family-Friendly Atmosphere; Community Spirit.

Join us as we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas! We welcome and serve all in Christ's name.

Faith, Food Fun – Join us on Sundays at 9:00am.

Good day dear hearts, I love you. We are eight days away from the big day. I thought I was safe going to the big stores in Dickson City a week ago Monday but not so. We hear much about affordability on the news these days and comically the political party that put us in this predicament is telling us they are the answer to affordability. Enough of the politics! I will tell you the stores were packed and people's carts were filled. So much for affordability. As we inch closer to the big day are you getting stressed over preparing for worldly Christmas or are you joyful anticipating the coming of Jesus? If we took a poll, I'm not sure who would win. As December unfolds, candles flicker in churches and homes across the world, marking the season of Advent. Each week carries its own theme and last Sunday's theme was Joy. Not the shallow cheer of holiday jingles or the fleeting thrill of shopping deals, but a deeper, sturdier joy that can endure even in hard times. Imagine that, to be joyful in hard times!

Joy is often misunderstood. We confuse it with happiness, which depends on circumstances such as a good meal, a surprise gift or in Suski a 35-degree sunny day in the cold of winter. Joy, however, is rooted in something more lasting. It is the assurance that God is present, that His promises are true, and that His love is unshaken. Happiness fades when trouble comes; joy can remain even in sorrow. The Bible speaks of joy as a gift that springs from God's presence. The psalmist declares in Psalm 16:11, "In your presence is the fullness of joy." The angels who appeared to the shepherds on the night of Christ's birth announced "good news of great joy for all the people." Luke 2:10. Joy is not reserved for the privileged few; it is offered to everyone, from shepherds in the fields to weary souls today.

Advent joy is not naïve. It does not deny the darkness of the world, the wars, the divisions, the personal struggles that weigh heavily on our hearts. Instead, it shines precisely in those shadows. Think of a candle in a dark room. The flame does not erase the darkness, but it pierces it, offering warmth and light. In the same way, joy does not erase grief or hardship, but it gives us strength to endure them with joy. Consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. When told she would bear the Son of God, her life was thrown in uncertainty. Yet her response was a song titled, "My soul magnifies the Lord." You will find it in Luke 1:46-55. Mary's joy was not based on ease or comfort. It was grounded in trust, trust that God was at work, even in circumstances she could not fully understand.

Joy also has a communal dimension. It is not meant to be hoarded but shared. The shepherds, after hearing the angel's announcement, ran to Bethlehem and then spread the news to others. Joy overflowed into witness. In our communities, joy can overflow into acts of kindness: visiting the lonely, feeding the hungry, forgiving old wounds. At its heart joy is anticipatory. It looks forward to the fulfillment of God's promises. Just as Israel longed for the Messiah, we long for Christ's return, when sorrow or pain will be no more. Joy is the posture of waiting with confidence. It is the song sung in the meantime, trusting that the story ends in redemption.

For some of the readers of this newspaper, perhaps joy feels elusive. The headlines often highlight conflict, corruption and tragedy. Yet Advent invites us to lift our lives beyond the headlines. The birth of Christ was itself a headline in heaven. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace." Luke 2:14. That announcement still reverberates. Joy is not found in ignoring reality but in seeing reality though the lens of God's promise. How, then, do we cultivate joy for this Advent. We can pause daily, light a candle, read a Bible verse, or simply sit in silence. Joy grows in stillness. Practice gratitude. Naming blessings, even small ones, shift our focus from what is lacking to what is given. Serve others. Joy multiplies when shared. A simple act of kindness can brighten someone's day, as well as yours. Sing. Music has a way of lifting the heart. Advent hymns remind of truths deeper than words alone.

Joy is not a denial of pain but a declaration of faith. It says God is here and He is faithful and His love is unconditional. That is why Advent joy matters, not just for church goers, but for anyone longing for light in the darkness. As we move toward Christmas, may joy be more than a word on a card or a lyric in a song. May it be a lived reality, a flame that burns steadily in our hearts and communities. For this child born in Bethlehem is still the source of joy today. His coming was, and remains, "good news of great joy for all people." Merry Christmas. God Bless.

Father, we ask your blessing on our little town. Send your Spirit and touch the broken-hearted, give peace to the sick, bless the poor. Join us Saturday Dec. 20th for a complimentary Christmas dinner consisting of Turkey and the fixings that go with a turkey dinner from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Our church family invites you to join us Wednesday, December 24th at 7:00pm for a Candlelight Service consisting of music, Bible readings and a birthday cake for Jesus. Pastor Vince Chiaramonte, 570-853-3988.