The sermon today dealt with messengers. In short, God works through messengers throughout His dealings with us. Each of the readings today had a messenger: Nathan to Daniel, Paul to the early Christians, and Gabriel to Mary. What we often forget is that Jesus has tasked us to be His messengers now. We are the ones to bring the Good News to others, to show others the power of love, and to bless people in Jesus's name. It is an awe-inspiring notion.
The church undergoes a transformation after the last of the masses today. Volunteers gather and add Christmas trees, wreaths, lights and garland, making the church look absolutely amazing. These decorations fill the church with warmth and a sense of festivity. I look forward to it every year and am also surprised by how much it affects me every year.