Revive us so that we can call on your name.
Restore us, LORD God of heavenly forces!
Make your face shine so that we can be saved!
(Psalm 80:18b-19)
Good Day Family,
Revive and Restore: Advent is Coming!
The season of Advent is one of waiting in expectation and in remembering the fulfillment of God’s promise to be with us. One of the names of God that we uplift during this time is Emmanuel, God with Us. That was the promise of a coming Messiah that we remember and celebrate on Christmas, but it also calls us to anticipate that Christ will come again. We tend not to emphasize this aspect of the season as much. I think most of us aren’t necessarily looking forward to Christ coming again and would just as soon delay that as long as possible.
But I think we can expand our view to anticipate the coming of the Kin-dom of God, of the rule and reign of God being manifested on earth as it is in heaven. During this particular season, we will not be able to engage in the same traditions but that doesn’t mean we can’t engage in the season. We can embrace this time in the way that the early church did, as more contemplative and reflective.
Last week at the conclusion to my sermon, I issued a challenge that each of us consider what we can do to meet the needs of those in need in a new way in the name of Jesus as a way to show Christ in the world. In the same way that many of us give up something for Lent, let’s take something on for Advent. In this way, we can shine the light of Christ in the world and be reminded in the midst of so much loss that there is still hope, and that hope is revealed in and through us.
In Anticipation,
Be well,
Pastor Cheryl
I also recommend that you create a sacred space in your home during Advent. From creating an advent wreath to lighting a candle, we make our homes holy spaces that uplift and encourage us as we wait for safer times.
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