by Christine Sine
This year the Fourth week of Advent is very short, so instead of posting a liturgy for the fourth week of Advent I am posting one for the Christmas season.
God of joy and celebration,
God of love and mercy,
God of peace and righteousness.
We sing aloud and dance with the angels.
The ruler of all worlds, the shepherd of creation,
Jesus Christ has entered our world.
Our Saviour Christ has come into the world,
Not in power, not in might, but in the tenderness of love,
He comes as the promise of life hidden in a mother’s womb.
In this season of God with us we celebrate with the angels,
We are graced by the wonder of God’s presence,
We are filled with the tenderness of Christ’s love.
Pause to light the Advent & Christmas Candle
Alleluia, the waiting is over, Jesus Christ has come.
The promised One of Christmas in now present in our midst.
May we let the chaos settle and turn from our distractions,
May we notice the places that shimmer with his presence.
Alleluia, love comes down at Christmas,
Beloved son of God, Saviour of the world we welcome your coming.
A child born as one of us to make all things new,
A Saviour birthed to bring righteousness and justice for all.
Watch for the signs and listen for the messengers,
Stand on tiptoe, shout for joy and trumpet the good news,
God’s miracle has come down from heaven,
Alleluia the Christ child has come.
May this child of Christmas come to us and give us hope,
May he grow in us and show us life, may he speak to us and teach us love,
Alleluia something new is emerging something new is being birthed,
Jesus has come and we open our hearts to be his home.
Pause to Reflect on the coming of Christ and what it means for you.
Love and faithfulness meet together,
Righteousness and peace kiss each other,
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
In this season of God with us we rejoice for God’s salvation has come.
The redeemer of all creation has come to earth,
And we catch glimpses of God’s Messiah healed world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
This is the time we believe once more that perfect love casts out fear,
That generosity transforms scarcity into abundance,
That righteousness overcomes oppression with justice.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven.
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
We are graced by Christ’s presence and filled with his love,
May we become bearers of God’s light,
And go out to transform our troubled world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
Scriptures of the day from the daily lectionary
The whole earth shouts with joy to God
The world declares God’s praise.
Praise to the compassionate and gracious One,
Who sent the son to dwell among us.
Praise to the incarnate One, Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
Who fulfills God’s covenant of love and compassion to all humankind.
Praise to the indwelling one, the Holy Spirit the giver of life,
Who proclaims God’s mercy and justice throughout the earth.
Praise to the Three in One,
Praise to the One in Three,
Praise to God on high.
A time of Prayer
Jesus you come,
In the voice of the poor,
In the hurting of the sick,
In the anguish of the oppressed.
Open our eyes that we may see you.
Jesus you come,
In the weakness of the vulnerable,
In the questions of the doubting,
In the fears of the dying.
Open our ears that we might hear you,
Jesus you come,
In the celebration of the saints,
In the generosity of the faithful,
In the compassion of the caring,
Open our hearts that we might embrace you.
Come into our hearts,
Come into our lives,
Come into our world.
Fill the world with your light and love and beauty.
Amen
by Carol Dixon
Festival of Light – Advent
Come, loving God,
into our worship and into our world;
Come with the light of love,
Come with the light of peace,
Come with the light of hope.
Come, loving God,
into our worship and into our world
and banish the darkness of night
with the dawn of your coming.
Word made flesh
How do you
…..flesh out
…..…..a word,
…..…..…..God?
Cover letters
…..in sinew,
…..…..skin?
Is it possible
…..to produce
…..…..pigment
…..…..…..on paper,
Or life-lines
…..and laughter lines
…..…..in script,
So that the impact
…..resonates throughout
…..…..the mists of
…..…..…..time?
In a word,
…..Yes.
…....…
The forerunner
Announce
to the world
‘God is coming!’
Proclaim
the message
‘The Lord is here!’
Build
new roads,
new avenues of hope
for all people.
Lord of the wild desert places,
we praise and adore you
for your refreshing message
of repentance, forgiveness,
and restoration.
Thank you for sending John,
as messenger -forerunner of Jesus –
to people wandering in the wilderness
of disobedience and despondency.
Cleanse and renew us
with your liberating love;
bathe us in your peace,
so that we are prepared
to take your Word to the world.
Lord of the supermarket and leisure centre
we praise and adore you
for your blazing message
of hope, reconciliation,
and renewal.
Thank you for sending us,
as announcers -followers of Jesus –
to people fumbling in the fog
of despair and disillusionment.
Set us free
with your purifying power;
inflame us with your joy,
so that we are ready
to broadcast your Word in our day.
(URC Prayer Handbook 1992)
Coming
‘I’m coming!’
Words of re-assurance
to a frightened child.
‘Coming, ready or not!’
Exciting anticipation
of being found.
‘It’s coming now!’
Time to relax
after a long wait.
Lord Jesus, coming king,
You take away our fear of the future,
You find us when we hide from you,
You fulfill all our longing expectation.
Your coming
comforts us,
thrills us,
settles us.
Come again
into our hearts,
in peace, in joy, in love,
this Christmas.
Waiting
God, we are waiting,
waiting for your coming
into our lives.
God, we are expecting,
hoping to see you
at work in the world.
Give us patience
to keep on waiting,
hoping, and working
for the coming
of your kingdom,
through Jesus our Lord –
born as a baby in Bethlehem,
living, dying and rising,
reigning with you and the Holy Spirit –
bringing us life and love and peace,
this day, and every day,
to the end of time.
Expectation
Oh the bliss of a bit of shelter,
some straw to lie down on
after that interminable journey;
somewhere to rest between pains.
I thought we’d never make it
at one stage – the checkpoint
as we entered Bethlehem.
Thank God for a compassionate soldier,
and the kindly innkeeper –
she obviously understood
what I was going through.
Here in the quiet, away from the crowds,
surrounded by the warmth of animals
and the solicitous strength of Joseph,
I can get on with things.
I never imagined when I agreed
to Gabriel’s request from God
that it was going to be like this.
I didn’t expect a palace
but hoped for a home and maybe
my mother and the local midwife
to help out, or even cousin Elisabeth –
she’s been through it recently.
The trouble is, when you say ‘Yes’ to God,
you never know what to expect!
Incarnation
It should have been so special: the son of God
– announced by an angel heralding his greatness –
growing within her womb; recognized by an unborn child
who, at her greeting, jumped for pure, pre-natal joy.
But then came pointed looks, Joseph’s unspoken doubts,
the heavy, sluggish journey to a southern city
– bursting at the seams with teeming humanity – culminating
in doors shut in their desperate faces, frantic arguing,
and the eloquent exhaustion in her pleading eyes.
And now it had come to this: the outhouse of an inn,
blood and sweat and straw; the child, tearing
his way into the world – from darkness into light;
between her pains she watched the cross beam
up above her head, studying its rough-hewn shape.
A strange beginning for the chosen one of God,
coming to life in squalid poverty and deprivation,
in a land oppressed by power of arms; where citizens
– herded like the cattle whose stall she borrowed –
were numbered for a foreign ruler’s whim.
Such an ordinary birth: and yet she knew
as he was born, the world would never be the same again.
Christmas Prayer
You came as a baby, Lord,
as a little helpless child
who relied on a human family
to care for him.
You cried because you were hungry,
because you were homeless,
because you were a stranger
far away from home.
You still cry with hunger, Lord,
in the voices of the many starving;
your tears still flow: for the homeless,
the lonely and the forgotten;
you still rely on human families
to care for you.
And so this Christmas, Lord, we pray:
help us to be the kind of people
who look for you in the world,
and joyfully discover you
as we care for one another.
from Worship Resources for Advent & Christmas John Paul Press
(reproduced with permission)
‘A rose Arose’*
In the dark recesses
of winter world
a sleeping seed
germinates.
Cocooned within
the womb, a foetus
flexes fragile fingers
tipped with tiny nails;
birth beckons;
a journey begins:
darkness gives way
to light.
Hidden in the humus
of a stable yard,
a simple rose grows
and, on Christmas morning,
blossoms.
*From the 15th century Carol ‘Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen’
This download includes the Lean Towards the Light this Advent & Christmas devotional book, journal, and prayer cards for Celtic Advent, Advent, and Christmas through Epiphany! The Lean Towards the Light this Advent & Christmas devotional spans the season from Celtic Advent through Epiphany on January 6th. The intent is to give us an extended period of time in which to both prepare ourselves for and celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth. The devotional offers a daily reading of either a liturgy, reflection, poem, or prayer that correlates with the journal which includes scripture, questions, and suggested activities for each day. The set of 12 Advent Prayer cards will help you reflect on the Advent and Christmas story.
by Christine Sine
My word for the third week of Advent is Welcomed. As I thought about that over the weekend I was reminded of the fact that God breathed on us, we welcomed the breath into our bodies and became living beings. In light of that I thought that I would share a breathing exercise that I wrote especially for the Advent season.
Breath Exercise
(Inspired by Scott Erickson author of Honest Advent).
Paying attention to our breathing is at the heart of any kind of centering prayer or mindfulness practice and it is a good place to start each morning as we move closer to Christmas and need a time to pause and relax as we start the day.
Throughout the scriptures there are many places that people meet the living God – burning bushes, on top of mountains, in a wrestling match but probably the most unexpected and inspiring form is through breathing. The Hebrew word for breath is ruach, the same word as for the Holy Spirt. And as we breathe in and out, it is as though we breathe in the life giving energy of the Holy Spirit, and then as we breathe out, we breathe out that energy and share it with the world.
Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt as they held the baby Jesus and listened to his breathing – inhale, exhale, the breath of God in a tiny baby, the breath of the Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mary and enabled her to conceive. But that breath, ruach, the Holy Spirit is not just in this baby, but in all the babies born to our world, in fact in all of us and in all the creatures of God’s good creation. The breath of the Holy Spirit giving life. Inhale, exhale, imagine the wonder of it.
Maybe the place we experience the wonder of Advent most fully, is when we stop and listen to our own breathing. Lets do that for a couple of minutes.
Sit quietly in the presence of the living God.
Relax your body, release the tension in your jaw and your shoulders.
Close your eyes and slowly breathe, imagining that you are breathing in not just air, but the energy of the Holy Spirit.
In through your nose,
Out through your mouth.
Imagine how Mary and Joseph felt as they held the baby Jesus
and listened to his breathing.
Imagine that you too hold the baby Jesus in your hands. Inhale, the breath of God, ruach, in a tiny baby. Exhale, the breath of Jesus going out into the world. The life of heaven and renewal of earth, the hope of all people, held in each breath we take, each breath we share, from the moment of birth.
Breath draws us into the one family with the Christ child, one community with all the people of the earth, our breath mingling as we quietly inhale and exhale together.
Now imagine Jesus as we think of him today. Sit conscious of the comforting embrace of our beloved Saviour,
Jesus Christ redeemer, but also friend, companion, brother,
Circling you, walking with your as you journey along the way.
Breathe deeply
In through your nose,
Out through your mouth
Sit in awareness of God’s Holy Spirit filling you,
Counsellor, guide, fount of all wisdom,
Ruach, living breath,
Love always with us
When we feel alone,
Light always filling us.
When darkness threatens to overwhelm.
Joy and awe bursting forth
When we catch glimpses of beauty
Beyond our comprehension.
Slowly breathe
Inhale, exhale,
Sit still in the enfolding presence of God,
Almighty and Holy One,
Knowing the embrace of the Eternal One is with you
Every step of your journey.
Christmas Greetings to friends and family as we race towards a turbulent 2024.
Christine & Tom
Ten years ago in 2014, we sent out greetings reflecting on a great visit to Australia to be with Christine’s family and some of her medical school buddies as well as driving along the beautiful coast to Brisbane. Back then our world seemed like a relatively calm and pleasant place.
However, we have all experienced much change in the past decade. We discovered that predictions on the first Earth Day over 50 years ago accurately predicted accelerating environmental challenges. We also, in the past decade, encountered huge tech expansion with many benefits but also with new challenges. Clearly, as we race into 2024 many of our churches are headed into some very daunting times a well.
In spite of all the challenges, it has been a very good year. We now have 2 delightful young couples living with us in our small Mustard Seed House community and enjoy a meal together each week, as well as garden time once a month. With their help, the garden produced an impressive harvest of 280 lbs of tomatoes, 500 lbs of apples, 100 lbs of Asian pears and 40 lbs of peaches as well as lots of greens, squash, garlic and beans. We had a wonderful time processing apples and even managed to rent an apple press to make cider. As well as that, we delighted in a magnificent display of flowers, beginning with daffodils and tulips. The dahlias in particular looked spectacular over the summer filling our hearts with joy every time we wandered around the back yard.
Mustard Seed House
We are now a three dog family, as each couple owns a dog. Fortunately they all get on very well together. It is fun to watch them romp and frolic together out in the back yard, though the grass has definitely suffered as a result.
Over the summer we enjoyed doing hospitality again after a long break, inviting friends over for our first BBQs in several years. We also visited our good friends Tom and Kim in Canada. In February Christine travelled to Australia to see her family, a much needed visit after 3 years away. In October we visited San Francisco where Tom grew up. We visited lots of friends and walked around that beautiful city. It was a real treat. Tom shared at an important workshop with Tod Bolsinger, using his book 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change. It is a very relevant book for today as it describes three vital steps for racing into a time of accelerating change. It outlines ways to not only anticipate new waves of change but also innovative responses that reflect the ways of Jesus.
New Podcast coming soon
Christine’s website Godspacelight.com continues to flourish with visitors from 200 countries during the year. In January 2024 she expects to start a podcast “Liturgical Rebels” for people who want to reimagine and reconstruct their faith and spiritual practices; those who want to reshape belief and journey closer to God’s wholeness with peace, justice and flourishing not just for themselves but for the earth and all its inhabitants.” We are both really excited about this new venture. It really grew out of her book The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God and the encouragement to consider new and creative ways to express our faith and our awe and wonder in the world around us.
Christine is again cooking up a huge array of Christmas goodies – shortbread, English fruit cake, lemon bars and pecan bars – to send out in packages to friends and family as well as for our own hospitality. She loves to make an apple/cranberry punch to go with these as we entertain friends over the Christmas season. We just wish that we could invite you all over to celebrate the season and share these delicious goodies with us.
We both wish you and your loved ones a joyous Christmas and New Year of loving change-making.
Christine and Tom Sine at the Mustard Seed House in Seattle
Recently, June and I visited one of our favorite gardens: Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ.
As I was walking along, I was struck by the effect of the sunlight on the plants around me.
They glistened.
They created contrasts in the green foliage.
They begged for a deeper, longer look.
They sparkled with the delight of the Creator.
It was glorious to behold.
Artists work a lifetime to capture the light perfectly on a canvas.
As an amateur photographer, I try to do the same.
It is a delight when others notice that the artist or photographer has captured
the essence of the luminosity of a scene.
As I was walking along, I thought about how the Advent season is often described as a season of light.
The ancient prophets talked about a time when a light would be born into the world.
Isaiah 9:1-2, New International Version
“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.
In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations,
by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
When Joseph and Mary took eight-day old Jesus to the temple, they met the prophet, Simeon.
Here is Luke’s account from Luke 2:27-32 (New International Version)
“Simeon took him (Jesus) in his arms and praised God, saying:
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
It is for a good reason that Advent is celebrated as a season of light:
Jesus the light of the world is the centerpiece of the season.
I just read a news piece about the current state of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The author writes, “The baby Jesus lies in the rubble in one of the churches (not the Church of the Nativity, this author’s note).”
Yet, even, the current tragedy of the events in Israel, Gaza and West Bank cannot dim the light that that shone that first Christmas.
Our lives may appear to be a surviving under a pile of rubble,
Some of our own making
Some caused by others and even nature itself,
Yet; the baby Jesus is there among it all.
The light is shining brightly.
It cannot be dimmed.
It is indeed an eternal light.
I visited a synagogue this week in my community. The rabbi giving me a tour pointed to the eternal light that burns in the sanctuary; a light to remind the worshippers that God’s presence is always present.
The church where I serve, similarly, has an eternal light to remind us of God’s presence.
This is a season we are reminded that an eternal light has been burning since the Garden of Eden (Psalm 104:1-2) and will burn in the everlasting Garden (Revelation 22:5).
I invite you this advent season to see where there is light.
Ron Friesen is a pastor and a certified spiritual director in Phoenix, AZ. He is married to
June, a frequent contributor to Godspace Light Community.
These Advent days are moving quickly towards Christmas. A little too quickly for me! I’m trying to take time to stop and take a deep breath and enjoy the simple things of the holiday season. Last night we had a family dinner to welcome my niece and her new husband to the Nashville side of the family. They live out west and we sadly didn’t make it to their wedding earlier this year. We had a wonderful time telling old stories and laughing at new ones we hadn’t heard before over delicious BBQ and side dishes from a great local restaurant. And then for dessert, the joy of a childhood memory food! pink peppermint ice cream and my late grandmother’s fudge pie! On the way home, my husband and I took the long way and looked at the Christmas lights along the way. It was a fun way to pause and receive the Joy of the season.
This week is the week of Joy in traditional Advent. It’s the pink candle week if you have a traditional wreath with three purple and one pink candle. It’s known as Gaudete Sunday. which is Latin for rejoice.
What is your definition of JOY?
This Advent, I am finding Joy in new Christmas music, and in decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments from all our travels and from my childhood and those created by our kids. I’m finding Joy in beautiful sunsets and the crisp blue skies of late and finding joy in our doodle Jake.
Jake
What is bringing you Joy in this season? What symbolizes JOY to you?
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.jesus mafa nativity
What do you notice from this passage that you might not have noticed before?
The angels announce GOOD NEWS that will cause GREAT JOY for all the people! Not just for some of us! Not for those who have the right clothes or the right job or the right political affiliations. Not just those who have loads in their bank accounts or those who’ve invested well for their retirement years. But this GOOD NEWS, this JOY is for EVERYONE! Even lowly shepherds who haven’t taken a bath in a month much less thought about a retirement plan!
“Shepherds were a despised occupational group. Shepherds could be romanticized, largely due to the status of King David, the once and future shepherd king…However, in social fact shepherds were generally ranked with ass drivers, tanners, sailors, butchers, camel drivers, and other despised occupations. Being away from home at night, they were unable to protect the honor of their women; hence they were presumed to be dishonorable. Often they were considered thieves because they grazed their flocks on other people’s property.” (Malina/Rohrbaugh, 93)
It is interesting who gets the news of the Birth of the Messiah. It’s not the religious leaders or the wealthy, but rather a bunch of shepherds.
If Jesus was born today, who would get to hear about it first? Who in our world would be the first to hear of the GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY?
the annunciation to the shepherds henry ossawa tanner
Like the Shepherds of old, You are invited to OPEN YOUR INVITATION to JOY!
How can you experience more Joy in the days ahead? Talk to Jesus about this. What is blocking you from experiencing JOY right now? Give these things to Jesus to hold for you.
In honor of the shepherds, find a wool scarf or sweater and use it, wear it as a reminder that God is still announcing GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY to ALL PEOPLE! Allow the itch of the blanket, the itch of the sweater or scarf remind you to pray for people who aren’t considered the “in crowd,”and those who don’t know they are loved today. Those who feel outcast and alone this Advent/ Christmas.
PICK an Object or a Photograph that brings you JOY or reminds you to be joyful and keep it out on your desk or use it as your screen saver this week to help you receive the GIFT OF JOY from JESUS!
WATCH and LISTEN to one of my favorite spoken word artists: HARRY BAKER : JOY 2022 . Harry made a list of things that bring him joy as apart of his Advent practice last year and he is doing that again for 2023. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook. @harrybakerpoet
LISTEN: START your JOY PLAYLIST
“Take Joy in this! God is with us! That is what his name means…Emmanuel” Scott Erickson
by Karen Wilk
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14
Sometimes we read and hear Bible verses so often that we may forget to stop and ponder what they really mean. If we stop to think about what John 1:14 declares—and what we celebrate at this time every year—it’s astonishing. What can we ponder about John 1:14 for our lives today as Christ’s witnesses?
1. God became flesh.
The same Word—capital W—that created the universe and everything in it grew as an embryo in a mother’s womb! The mighty Word that spoke, “and there was light,” dwelt in the darkness! The eternal Word who appeared in a pillar of cloud and a fire, in prophets, in miracles, and in the care of little sparrows, roaring lions, and mighty mountains! This awesome, everlasting, all-powerful, all-knowing Word, God, came down, gave it all up to be with you, me, and our neighbors.
How are we “flesh and blood” in our neighborhoods?
2. The Word dwells among us.
God sticks around. God comes, not just to visit us, but to move in. “Into the neighborhood,” as Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message translation. God comes to hang out with us, in our ordinary, everyday lives and communities, to get to know us and to be with us.
How are we dwelling among and getting to know our neighbors?
3. And we beheld his glory, God’s glory!
God is no longer confined to the Holy of Holies, the mountaintop, the veiled face of Moses or our buildings! In Jesus, God’s glory is on display for all to see, touch, and experience! We’re assured not only that God knows, but also that God can be known! In Christ, “holiness” becomes humanity. Right next door, the kingdom of God comes near, full of grace, truth, love, and humility.
But beholding isn’t the end of the flesh and glory story. In fact, the flesh and glory story doesn’t end with Christmas or even with Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. It continues in the lives—in the flesh—of those who believe and receive Christ.
Where is the Spirit—full of love, grace, and truth—present and active in your neighborhood?
4. Those who have seen God’s glory are God’s glory in the flesh, now.
If we remain, as so many do, merely impressed and astonished at God among us, then we are mere observers of the good news. At best, we’re admirers responding as we would to an article about good news in the newspaper. Responding to the good news of Jesus in the flesh is part of the wonder, beauty, and challenge of ‘neighbourhood life.’
How do we not only discover God at work in our neighborhoods but also embody God’s grace and truth?
…so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. —2 Thessalonians 1:12
In this Advent season, we long for You, we watch for You
Come Lord Jesus and dwell among us.
Awaken us to Your Presence
Your flesh and blood glory right next door.
Help us to discover and join the Spirit
Already at work in our midst and out ahead of us
Thank You that Your Kingdom is near
on our streets, in our communities—
Come Lord Jesus, Light of the world, guide us
in Your Way of loving, living and being with our neighbours. Amen.
Inspired by Christine Sine’s book The Gift of Wonder, and by our recognition that wonder is at the heart of the Advent story, Lilly Lewin and Christine Sine will encourage you to get ready for the season and for the birth of Christ by providing a collaborative retreat process that will help us enter this season with joy and delight in our hearts. This course provides a fun process of interaction, creativity, and reflection.
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