Friends, Christmas shows up every year—yes, every single year—and somehow it still manages to catch us off guard. After what feels like only a few short months, we find ourselves preparing again to hear the ancient story of Christ’s birth. We need this story. We rely on it to speak hope, peace, love, and joy into a world—and into our own lives—that feel stretched thin. As we move through Advent, the questions rise naturally: How does the birth of one small baby—this particular Baby—speak to...

First Sunday of Advent, December 1   There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!  Let the light of your face shine on us,...

Dear friends, When you come to worship, do you “come expecting?” What do you expect? Who do you expect?   If your answer is “Jesus,”...