Advent 2023

As the Christmas season approaches, we, as the Church, set about preparing ourselves to remember the humble arrival of our King. For those familiar with the Church’s calendar, this season is called Advent, which roughly means “coming.” Like the Israelites in exile, we are waiting for our Messiah to return and to “make all things new” (Rev. 21:5) by remembering that God became flesh (Phil. 2:5-11, John 1:1-5) on that first Christmas. We can joyfully anticipate the second arrival of Christ because of His first– the two events are inextricably linked.

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Finding Hope Beyond Consumerism – Romans 15:1-13
Alycia Keffer
Finding Hope Beyond Consumerism – Romans 15:1-13
Alycia Keffer

Consumerism deceives us into believing we can achieve earthly immortality. We look outside of ourselves to find the solution to what is going on inside of us. And we begin to hope in the things we are consuming. But the invitation of Advent is to embrace a hope born on Christmas; a hope robust enough to carry us through all of life.

Alycia Keffer
Joy Beyond Retail Therapy – John 15:1-11
Amanda Berger
Joy Beyond Retail Therapy – John 15:1-11
Amanda Berger

I shop (and shop, and shop)... therefore I am. The goods and services the market provides becomes the source of our redemption. Oftentimes we can turn to consumption, to buying things as a coping mechanism a form of therapy. But Advent challenges that coping mechanism inviting us to find joy in the child from Bethlehem.

Amanda Berger
Faith in a Prosperity World – Mark 9:14-29
Bradley Coleman
Faith in a Prosperity World – Mark 9:14-29
Bradley Coleman

Everywhere we turn we are sold a story about prosperity. Prosperity is having the nicest house on the block. Prosperity is the two brand new cars. Prosperity is a certain type of Christmas complete with gifts under the tree. But the advent story challenges us to redefine the life of prosperity; as a life of trust in God with us.

Bradley Coleman
Peace and Ethical Awareness – Isaiah 9:6 & Matthew 22:15-22
Corbin White
Peace and Ethical Awareness – Isaiah 9:6 & Matthew 22:15-22
Corbin White

I shop, I don’t Ask, I don’t Tell. The liturgies of consumption ask us to learn and live in ignorance. Instead of asking where our goods come from, it invites us to believe in a sort of magic, that all of these garments arrive with no moral problems and disappear when they are disposed of. Through the birth, life, and death of our Lord, we have seen a vision of what our God wants for the world; that vision challenges how we consume.

Corbin White