“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We have spent the past nine months waiting. First we waited to see if the virus we were hearing about in China would make it to our shores, then to see if it could be contained once it did. We waited at home – participating in school, work, and church online. We waited through Holy Week and Easter, through graduations and birthdays and anniversaries, through canceled vacations and scaled-back weddings. We’ve seen glimpses of hope in reduced summer spread and some degree of normalcy, only to have those hopes dashed as we’ve changed our Thanksgiving plans and are wondering what Christmas will bring.
Still we wait – for a vaccine, for more effective treatments, for a sliver of assurance that life will be better and that we will return to people and activities we cherish. If ever there was a time when we are troubled in soul and looking forward for something greater to come, this is it. In the spring we spoke of the Lentiest of Lents. This, now, is an Advent to beat all Advents. This, now, is a time when all we can do is wait. All we can do it hope. All we can do is care for one another, look to God for the promise of something better, place our trust in Christ, as we are more aware than ever of our human poverty and imperfections.
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but that recognition and understanding is what Advent is all about. This moment in time is like no other, but that experience and opportunity is what Advent is all about. There is only so much we can do, but that acceptance and truth are what Advent is all about. In the midst of darkness, God became light. In the midst of brokenness, God became healing. In the midst of conflict, God became peace. In the midst of sorrow, God became joy. In the midst of sin, God became grace. In the midst of Advent we find hope, because in the midst of humanity, God became human in Jesus, the Christ.
Peace for the journey,
Pastor Steve
We have spent the past nine months waiting. First we waited to see if the virus we were hearing about in China would make it to our shores, then to see if it could be contained once it did. We waited at home – participating in school, work, and church online. We waited through Holy Week and Easter, through graduations and birthdays and anniversaries, through canceled vacations and scaled-back weddings. We’ve seen glimpses of hope in reduced summer spread and some degree of normalcy, only to have those hopes dashed as we’ve changed our Thanksgiving plans and are wondering what Christmas will bring.
Still we wait – for a vaccine, for more effective treatments, for a sliver of assurance that life will be better and that we will return to people and activities we cherish. If ever there was a time when we are troubled in soul and looking forward for something greater to come, this is it. In the spring we spoke of the Lentiest of Lents. This, now, is an Advent to beat all Advents. This, now, is a time when all we can do is wait. All we can do it hope. All we can do is care for one another, look to God for the promise of something better, place our trust in Christ, as we are more aware than ever of our human poverty and imperfections.
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but that recognition and understanding is what Advent is all about. This moment in time is like no other, but that experience and opportunity is what Advent is all about. There is only so much we can do, but that acceptance and truth are what Advent is all about. In the midst of darkness, God became light. In the midst of brokenness, God became healing. In the midst of conflict, God became peace. In the midst of sorrow, God became joy. In the midst of sin, God became grace. In the midst of Advent we find hope, because in the midst of humanity, God became human in Jesus, the Christ.
Peace for the journey,
Pastor Steve
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