Staying Steady in Advent

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Luke 21: 25-26

Dear Friends in Christ,

Do the words above make you pause? They paint a picture of upheaval, chaos, and confusion, a sense that the world is ending. We may share some of those feelings when we see the political and social upheaval, the differences and even divisions in our country today. If we look beyond our own borders, we see whole populations around the world suffering the tyranny of oppression and the effects of war, famine, and poverty.

Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads…Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down.

 The Gospel calls us to pay attention, to raise our heads to hear the sounds of struggle and see the places of suffering. At the same time, we acknowledge that our hearts can become heavy with sadness and disillusion. We need support in these challenging times if we are to remain faithful to the hope of Christ.

Advent is a time to reflect on what keeps us steady so that our hearts can be open to God. Below are some resources to help you discover what you need as you prepare your heart for God’s birth this Christmas and throughout the year.  

• Advent Calendars provide a way to steady ourselves and open our hearts. Here’s a Global Advent Calendar with images and brief meditations; this one is designed for children and families and can be placed on your refrigerator; and this one is called The Way of Love.   
• On Sundays in Advent, our young people are invited to make ornaments to hang on our Jesse Tree. Sunday, December 23, at 10 a.m., we’ll decorate our Jesse Tree and tell the story of God’s faithfulness through the ages.
• Remembering our loved ones through Christmas Memorials is a wonderful way to open our hearts. Please submit names to the church office by December 20th, for inclusion in our Christmas bulletin.

Finally, one of the best ways to prepare for the coming of Christ is by attending worship on Sunday mornings, where we can steady one another as we open our hearts to God’s love. As Bishop Carlye Hughes encourages us in this video: invite someone to join you!

In Christ,
Rev. Elizabeth

Advent & Christmas Schedule
Jesse Tree Pageant, Carols, and Holy Eucharist:  Sunday, December 23, 10:00 am. Followed by Greening of the Church.
Christmas Eve:  Monday, December 24, 4:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist with children’s homily and festive music.
Sunday, December 30: 10 a.m. Morning Prayer and Dwelling in the Word.