“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28, NRSVUE

Advent is here! Advent marks the beginning of our church’s calendar, and it begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. This is the season where we prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming – not just on that holy night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago – but for Christ’s second coming! Hebrews 9:28 reminds us that when Christ comes again, he will be coming for those who are eagerly waiting for him. Advent can often feel different and sometimes even off-putting from the early Christmas celebrations. It can be easy to get caught up in the shopping, decorating, and celebrating.

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In Advent, we eagerly wait upon the Lord. God meets us where we are, even in our busyness. As a local church, we choose to focus intently on the reason for the season. Whether through our Advent wreath in worship, to our Upper Room small group, or our Longest Night service, we are offering different ways to focus on God. There is certainly cause for external celebration but let us not ignore where our hearts are this season. May we be a people who wait for our Lord’s second coming eagerly, may the God who created us so wonderfully, continue to guide us, especially in a season that can feel overwhelming. Work within our hearts, O Christ, so that we may shine your light this season, Amen.

Wishing you love and light this season,

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Rev. Tess Welch