Dear Incarnation,
Advent begins this Sunday, and I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for it. Advent is a season of waiting and longing, of lamenting all that is not right in the world and crying out for God to come. It builds a holy discomfort into a season that can otherwise feel a bit sacharine. Don't get me wrong, I love all the sacharine stuff — twinkle lights (team colored lights!!) and decorating cookies and hanging stockings and A Charlie Brown Christmas. But Advent gives us space to rest from busyness and hurry, quiet ourselves in God's presence, name our sorrows and fears, and voice a hope more enduring than even the best holiday trappings.
Advent is also a penitential season, just like Lent (they share the color purple for this reason). It's a time of self-reflection and inward preparation — a sort of "making room at the inn" within ourselves — so that we can receive the Lord's coming with joyful anticipation. We hear testimonies from the congregtion during this season, and our bishop visits every year to confirm people in the faith. These are opportunities for all of us to witness, pray, and participate in the work God is doing in each others' lives; and they invite us to notice the stirrings of the Spirit within our own lives, too.
Because I have the privilege of hearing your stories, I know the sorts of sorrows and fears you are carrying into this Advent. I carry many of them too. Political divisions and uncertainties (including federal job security for some of you); escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine; heartaches and divisions within your families; questions of vocation, location, and calling; failures and compromises within the church; and much more.
I want to provide an update on one particular area of sorrow this past year: the investigation into past abuse at The Falls Church Anglican, our grandparent congregation. On Monday, our bishop sent an email to the clergy of the diocese notifying us of his pastoral response to the conclusion of the investigation. You can read his response here; it is also publicly posted on the safeguarding page of the diocesan website. It is long and measured, and includes updates about steps taken in the aftermath of the investigation. I know this matter hits very close to home for many in our congregation, so please reach out to me or Katie if you would like to talk or pray about any of this.
On Sunday, we'll read from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, in which he offers guidance to people who are watching the world crumble around them and wondering when Jesus will come back to make it right. It's advice on how to wait, what to do in the long Advent of this life: "For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. . . . May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." (1 Thess 3:6-13)
This is how we wait for Christ's coming: we ask him to grow our love and strengthen our holiness. That's it — the small but essential work of ordinary faithfulness. There is no power in this world that can counter it.
Waiting with you,
Amy
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