This upcoming season of Advent we will take on the theme of hope in the midst of fear. We are blessed to have an organization like "A Sanctified Art" who developed this theme. This is from their introduction to the devotional that will be available to you:
Luke’s Gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of Herod. . ." This detail may seem minor to modern readers; however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. A world not so unlike our own. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, we hear the whispers of angels delivering a surprising message: “Do not fear.” When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears—they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?
Each week we will lean into a nuance of how hope can be found. But, to do so we need to ask this question: What do you fear? Often fear is what gets in the way of hearing the Good News. Fear can paralyze us. Fear can blind us. Fear can force us into a life of scarcity. Fear can stop our heart.
So, what does it mean for God to come into a world held by fear? What does it mean for us that God chooses to come to us in these times of moral morass? We will ponder these questions as we prepare for the way of the Lord.
Please consider joining us each Sunday in Advent to journey with your church family to Christmas.
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