Friends in Faith,
Happiest of holidays to you, and blessed Advent season.
Things are different for me this year. Amanda and I are sharing our first married Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas together. And I can feel the difference. There is more to expect, more to share, and more to prepare!
And I think that’s fitting for Advent, really. The word means arrival—it is a time of anticipation. Something new is afoot! For the church, it’s also an intentional season of receiving God’s gifts—the ones that run counter to our obsessive culture. That’s worth paying attention to. With God there is expectation, an invitation to share, and this focused time of preparation. I hope, for you, it will be fruitful and rich and like light in the dark.
We have entered the New Year for the church, year A, and this year will draw from the gospel of Matthew. In worship this Advent we’ll explore major themes as Jesus fulfills the law, calls sinners, builds a church, and gives his life.
Four themes will shape the rhythm of our Sundays:
- Desperation (the way out)
- Recognition (being found and made whole)
- Repair (healing)
- Presence (God-with-us)
Week 1 – We walk a new way, called to awaken to reality of Jesus’ life and death. The law has brought judgment and leaves us lost, bound, needing a way through. Our Advent longing is for a road home
Week 2 – We Repent, as the Kingdom is Near. The call of Jesus is that piercing moment when someone finally sees you, names you, calls you back.”Our Advent longing is to be found.
Week 3 – We re-create, as life is New. We know the reality of hurt, relationships that fracture, spirits that need mending. The church Jesus builds is community meant for the mending. We are a restorative community and our Advent longing is for healing.
Week 4 – We show up, as God shows up! Emmanuel—Love incarnate, breathing, present in the flesh. A light has shined in our need and despair, our dark and hopelessness. We see that, all along, Our longing is for the living God.
We are blessed by each other this Advent, so I hope we’ll see you on Sundays for worship or Wednesdays for Soup Supper and Evening prayer. God’s good gifts abound, and we’re called to expect, experience, and share!
+Pr Shaun