YOUR PERSONAL ADVENT

OK, its happening again. The season of Advent seems to come around each year. The colors of the church are changed to PURPLE and we enter the season known by marketing friends as the SHOPPING SEASON. Of course, we are all aware that most stores started preparing for this season sometime between July and Labor Day but as Christians, we try to hang on to Advent as a season of preparation for our celebration of the birth of Christ.

Both clergy and educators try to remind us that it is not just how many shopping days we have left but it is a time of preparation, expectation, anticipation for the birth of the new thing God is doing in our world. Sometimes we forget that it is also our season of Advent. We need to ask what preparations and what expectations we have this Advent.

PREPARING AND EXPECTING

Let me remind you of some of the basic characteristics of the preparation for that first season of birth.

FIRST, it was the result of someone trusting that God was able to fulfill a promise even when it seemed to contradict the possible and the respectable—MARY AND JOSEPH.

SECOND, it was recognized by ordinary people while they were fulfilling their ordinary responsibilities as laborers in this world — SHEPHERDS.

THIRD, it happened because some people respected and were directed by the traditions of their faith–THEY WERE OF THE HOUSE AND LINEAGE OF DAVID.

FOURTH, someone went out of their way to show hospitality to people in need — NO ROOM IN THE INN BUT THERE IS A MANGER.

SO ITS YOUR TURN

So are you preparing and expecting God’s birth of something new in your life this year.

Could it be something that would be good news but seems to contradict the likely events in your life?

Might it happen while you are engaged in your life work?  If so, are you prepared to recognize the angels who sing about that good news.

Are you allowing yourself to be directed by the traditions of your faith that can offer you clues about where to go and what to look for?

Are you responsive to the hospitality of others to make space for this miracle in your life?

ADVENT EXPECTATIONS

Whether you are a pastor, educator, staff, or member of a church, I hope you will experience a vital Advent season of preparation.

trust that god is not done with you or your church. god is inviting you to hear a new song of angels that the world desperately needs to celebrate.