People of God, in Advent we acknowledge that the world can be dark—as events such as recent shootings have again shown us. But in Advent we, the people of God, also always hold firm to the truth and the hope that we have been given: that Jesus came, once on a night a very long time ago, and also the truth that Jesus is coming again. The Light is coming into our darkness—thanks be to God!

Grace and peace to you and yours,

Becky

Gracious God, we hurry so much during this season, hoping for a perfect holiday and that our relatives will behave and that little Joey or Aunt So-and-So will like that gift we’ve gotten. We ask that you bless our efforts to make this a joyous holiday. And we also ask that you help us keep a holy perspective, knowing that your coming is far more important than anything we can do to celebrate it. Your birth as a helpless human child humbles us, as does the knowledge that you lived a whole human life simply to be with us. Your love always persists and finds a way, which is cause for wonder, and we are grateful. Amen.