Advent is the season of waiting. During Advent, we light the candles of hope, faith, joy, and peace on the Advent wreath, and we end with the lighting of the Christ candle.
Advent is a time to stop and reflect on our calling in Christ. Through baptism, we are called to glorify God and enjoy God forever. We are also called to serve our society and the world. In her book, The Meaning is in the Waiting: The Spirit of Advent, Paula Gooder reflects on the calling of Abraham and Sarah and how their lives can guide us in our sense of call and vocation. She writes, “With God, the command is both to go and to come. The ‘go’ element involves leaving behind many things; the command to ‘come’ involves knowing that God will accompany us on the journey.” Engaging in a call includes both grasping and letting go. What may God be calling you to grasp? What may God be calling you to let go of?
Advent is also a time of waiting. God calls us to wait for the seeds of faith planted in our spirit to sprout into new life. The Presbytery Assembly approved the new position of Director of Innovation, the Revolving Loan Program, and the Resurrection Cultivation Grant. These financial incentives will plant seeds of new worshiping communities, congregational revitalization, and redevelopment, along with new mission ideas and dreams that congregations have been nursing. I anxiously await fruitful congregations, chaplains, teachers, ministry partnerships, new worshiping communities, and other specialized ministries to bud, blossom, and bloom, all in God’s time. What do you find yourself waiting for during this Advent season?
Advent is a call to life. As we embrace the core elements of our life in Christ — hope, faith, joy, and peace — we enjoy the happiness of God through the fruit of the Spirit. Blessings to all during this Advent season as we engage the Triune God and find new life together. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard
