Dearly beloved,

Advent is coming! Advent is coming! Advent is coming!

I think Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the Church Year. It often gets lost amidst all the preparations for Christmas and the relentless sales and advertisements that take up space in our days. The hymns of Advent do not have the same kind of appeal as Christmas songs – be they sacred or secular. Other than the Advent wreath in our worship space, our faith perspectives want to move quickly through the season to get to the manger.

Yet, despite is “less appealing” nature – Advent is all about preparation and anticipation. It is a season of waiting and watching. It is a time of hope. It is about the coming Christ – in that manger, in our lives today as well as the future. It is all about Immanuel: God-with-us!

Each week as we light another candle on our wreath, the light grows brighter with the promise of Christ’s coming. The candles flicker with the promises of hope, peace. joy and love that are found in Christ Jesus. They point to the presence of God in our midst.

You are invited into this time of preparation and anticipation through our worship together, participating in the lighting of the wreath. In your own preparations, you have the opportunity to use the devotional “A Weary World Rejoices” by Kate Bowler with others or by yourself (we will be using it also as part of our Bible Studies in December). You can also light your own Advent wreath (or any set of 4 candles) using the devotional and/or the litanies that we use in worship.

May all our planning and expectations be infused with the promise of Christ. May that reflect the light that we prepare to celebrate. May they be a sign not just of our own faith, but as an expression to the world that God’s love become flesh and dwelt among us!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Jen

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)