Here Me Are!

Advent Notes of Hope

November 30, 2025

Each week of Advent focuses on a different word.  The first week, this week, the word is “hope.”  😊  Fortunately, I learned long ago to differentiate my name from the word.  However, when I was between 2 and 3 years old, my dear Godfather, Chester Kosmalski, a.k.a. “Red”, a.k.a. to me “Pa”, would snatch me from my mother’s arms when we’d arrive at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Detroit.  He always bought me the fanciest, most frilly dresses to wear to church.  My family sat in the back on the left.  Pa would take me right up front to the closest pew to the pulpit.  He had little jelly mints in his suit pocket to keep me quiet.  I love them to this day.  One Sunday though, Pastor Cameron A. MacKenzie banged on the pulpit and said: “We shall have hope.”  Remember that I had not learned the difference between my name and the word, so I shouted out as I stood up on the pew: “Here me are!”  It brought the house down or so the story goes.  I often think of that cute little story and my prayer is that I am here bringing hope to those who need it and bringing a smile to others.  During this first week of Advent think about a person to whom you can bring hope or a smile.  Write down their name and follow through.  It will give you hope and a smile as well. And you know what? Jesus also says “Here Me Are!” always with you right where you are.