We'll begin our Advent series on Sunday, November 26th.
All of our Advent services will be held Hybrid, including Christmas Eve. See our home page for our address and Zoom information.
Joy is often a companion to many other emotions. We can feel joy
in addition to feeling many other things at once: grief, anticipation,
anxiety, excitement, disappointment, exhaustion. Perhaps many of
us live with the myth that joy is not something we deserve—or that it
is wholly out of reach. But our joy is rooted in the truth that we belong
to God. Can you tether yourself to that deep truth? You deserve to
feel joy—fully. The world needs your joy, even if you are weary. Our joy
is better when it is shared.
This theme of course alludes to a line in the familiar Christmas
hymn, “O Holy Night,”2 which has an interesting history. The song
was originally written by a French poet who was atheist, and the
music was supplied by a Jewish composer. The hymn was later
translated into English by an American Unitarian minister. In the
1800s, it became a popular hymn for Christian abolitionists due to
its justice-focused language in verse 3.3 Like Mary’s song, the hymn
reminds us that justice and joy belong together. Sometimes our joy
is an act of resistance.
And so, this Advent, we will hold space for our weariness and our joy.
We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome
joy—even and especially if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for
comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways
to rejoice.
Throughout the month of December, we will send out daily text messages with Prompts for Fostering Joy this season. If you would like to subscribe to our advent calendar text "Advent" to (855) 424-9367
Or if you would like a PDF or physical copy, email Pastor Yost.
Throughout the series, we will have a devotional with readings and art to reflect on. We will send out a digital version to our email list each week. Sign up for our emails here. If you would like the digital version or a print version you can reach out to us via text at (855) 424-9367 or you can email Pastor Yost.
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