Advent can be a dizzying time. On top of ordinary life, there are presents to purchase and wrap, school concerts and Christmas parties to attend, feasts to plan and prepare, services to organize and attend. In addition, there is the accompanying emotional labor: hopes and expectations to manage, to-do lists to negotiate, family dynamics to dance, grief to metabolize, loneliness to endure.

I love Advent, because within this whirlwind of inner and outer labor, we are invited to pause. We are invited to wait. We are invited to remember that it’s not all up to us. We are invited to remember that God is one who draws near, and specifically, to remember that Love drew near in the form of a baby.

This past Sunday, we gathered in one another’s homes for our Fifth Sunday Brunch tradition. Since it happened to be the first week of Advent, we shared some prayers, scriptures, and reflection questions. I invite you to pause, if even for the length it takes for you to read this blog. Slow down and revisit these prayers and questions from Sunday:

“God, you are here. You are with us.
Help us feel you near. Help us know you better.”
Sanctified Art

The angel said to Zechariah, “Don’t be afraid,” a repeating refrain within the birth narratives of Jesus. These words can feel invalidating and dismissive. They can also feel reassuring and comforting. What makes these words feel so different in different contexts?

Can you remember a time when someone said something or did something that comforted you and gave you hope when you were afraid? What was that like for you?
What reminds you of God’s presence when you feel afraid? What helps you remember that God is with you?

“Dear God, you are as close as our breath. Even when the world is scary, even when we long for signs of hope, you are with us. You wanted to be so close to us that you broke into the world, choosing to be born not in a palace or a fortress, but in a manger. You didn’t wait for the world to be perfect or safe or peaceful. You were born in the middle of all our mess. Remind us that you’re still here, and you are with us always. Gratefully we pray, amen.”
Sanctified Art