Welcome to Advent! Advent is here, and the beginning of a new Christian New Year. This is a season of Hope, of Love, of Joy, and of Peace.

“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.”

In the gospel, Jesus promises a new day is coming. He also urges people to wake and get ready. What does that mean for us? One of the earliest, hardest steps toward becoming a community that reflects God’s dream is telling the truth. Like the servants left behind, we may be tempted to bury our heads, but there is grace and truth in examining our church’s story and bringing to light what has been hidden. Jesus invites us to see what is really happening and then to ask for the Spirit’s power to live anew.

We cannot become what God created us to be unless we also examine who we have been and who we are today. Who are you, as a church community? What groups are included and excluded? What things have you, as a church, done and left undone?

Year after year we are given this invitation.  Isn’t it wonderful that we are gifted with more than one chance to see, feel, hear, smell, and yes, taste Christ in our lives anew.  This should give us Hope.  Ask yourself “How is Christ being born anew in my life in each and every moment?”

It is happening at every moment if only we are awake, slow down, become aware and live each moment with intention.  We are asked to savour the moment! But we are also asked to respond in Love, with Joy and in Peace, that we may learn from Christ’s ways, that we may walk in Christ’s paths and to walk in the light of the Lord. (Preparing to Become the Beloved Community)