Advent Blessings

The first season of the church year is Advent. Advent is filled with promise – the promise of God – the promise of Immanuel: “God with us.”

Advent celebrates the coming of God as the prophet Isaiah proclaimed hundreds of years before the birth that transformed the earth. Advent is Jesus! And Advent is also about the people of God! The people of God waiting, watching, wondering and welcoming.

As the people of God we wait! But our waiting is active not passive. We look forward for opportunities to love, minister and serve. Advent is a time to be fully engaged in life and living as we wait.

As the people of God we watch! But our watching is active not passive. Most watch for sales before Christmas, but we watch for opportunities to love, minister and serve. Advent is a time to be fully engaged in life and living as we watch.

As the people of God we wonder! But our wondering is active not passive. So many wonder if they will survive another Christmas but our wonder is filled with deep reverence and awe. Oh, the wonder of God calling and using us to love, minister and serve! Advent is a time to be fully engaged in life and living as we wonder.

As the people of God we welcome! But our welcome is active not passive. So many welcome Christmas with relief but we welcome Christmas with Christ. The Christ Who calls and equips us to love, minister and serve! Our Advent does not end as we commit to fully engage ourselves in life and living – welcoming the wait, the watch and the wonder.

Let us be about that which God blesses as we wait, watch, wonder and welcome!