Kindred in Christ,

This Sunday marks the beginning of the season of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year! Yet, if you are like me, along with the joy of the holidays, and the wonder of the season, at times, you also feel spiritually, emotionally, or mentally left on empty. Many of us feel tired this season. Tired of the political vitriol. Tired of the us-versus-them mentalities. Tired of the racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia that permeate our country, our cities, and our families. Tired of the distrust and line drawing between people groups. Tired of waiting for prayers to be answered and for justice to be made a reality.

So, we come to this season of Advent weary for a world that will one day be made right. But that is not today. It is a world we can only glimpse—sometimes only through tears.

And so, we cry out with our spiritual ancestors, “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and with your captive children dwell… O come, and turn all hearts to peace, that greed and war at last shall cease” (updated lyrics by Rev. Mark Belletini).

It is during this anticipation and longing that the hope of Advent comes near to us. This hope is not a false certainty. Rather, the hope of Advent allows us to encounter a story bigger than our present moment. We find out that we are part of a story of redemption and healing that stretches all the way back to the coming Christ child, and into the future when all wars will cease. Encountering this hope, in the mist of our present human struggle, is how the weary world rejoices.

Join us this Sunday, as we kick off our new Advent series and begin the journey to Christmas and to all the ways Christ is present in our word. We look forward to seeing you in person and online!

Rev. Paul Ortiz