Our vision for our congregation attempts to place us in a position to move confidently into God's promised and preferred future. This is serious stuff! Partnering with God in the work laid out in front of us is a bold statement. Especially when we make the claim that God is indeed active in our world.Advent and Christmas is a time when we lean heavily into the promise of God to be with us always - EMMANUEL! We have picked up this theme by focusing our Advent sundays on these four words: Justice, Hope, Joy, and Promise.
Justice is a focus on those in our midst who have no voice, or no power. So often in history we see those who have power treating those without with disdain and disgust. We are reminded that this way of thinking is about scarcity. But the promise of justice comes in the form of a baby. Dan Erlander says that: Mary willingly offered herself to be a servant of God, a partner in God's promise to mend the entire universe. This means Good News to the poor, the sick, those on the margins. That there is abundance in God.
The Promise of God can be summed up in Mary's song:
Joy can be found in the way God is with us always and rebuilding what has been destroyed. God is always creating a new thing. All of creation sings God's glory and we should too!God's mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation. God has shown strength in God's arm; God has scatter the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:50-53
Our Hope then resides in the birth of this one we call Emmanuel, God is with us. a hope that resides in being vulnerable and compassionate; to live and teach dignity, mercy and food for all; to trust God in all things.
I hope you will make a commitment to come to church for each Sunday in Advent as a way to prepare for this Christmas. I promise God's word will fill you and change you. That is a promise.
