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19 SIMPLE COMMUNION Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever. His power and glory evermore proclaim His power and glory evermore proclaim. Colossians 3:1-4 It is easy to become overwhelmed by the here-and-now. The ever yday stresses, responsibilities, and demands of life can easily become all-consuming and hinder our ability to maintain an eternal perspective. This has felt especially true for me over the last year and a half with COVID. To me, this verse from O Holy Night is a reminder of the truth that our Lord is eternal and transcendent. He is the Creator and sustainer of the universe—the one who is, who was, and who is to come. Because of His incredible love for us, God sent His son Jesus to die so that we might spend eternity with Him. This incredible love gives us hope in the middle of our present trouble and pain. It is because of Him that we can and will forever praise His Name, both on this side of eternity and the next. Even though I know this truth, as I imagine you do as well, it can be difficult to remind ourselves of it. My prayer for myself and for you this Advent season is that we will take time to reflect on and commune with our eternal, powerful, and glorious God. To that end, I want to encourage you with a few verses that point to God's eternal nature and the forever hope we have in Him because of His Son. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4). "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Praise His powerful and glorious name forevermore! Eric Suddeath, PhD, Associate Professor of Counseling O Holy Night Lyrics by Placide Cappeau (1843), composed by Adolphe Adam (1847) DECEMBER