When the Consistory decided back in June that the Hope Church building would remain closed to in-person gatherings through the end of the year, I distinctly remember the moment when it dawned on us that we were talking about the seasons of Advent and Christmas. This did not change what the Consistory ultimately decided was necessary, but it led us to lament together how hard it seemed to imagine this season without being physically together for this sacred time. I also remember us saying “hopefully things will improve by then and we can reverse this decision in time for Advent.” Sadly, as the COVID cases turn the marker back in the upward direction, we have had to get creative to find ways to enter this season in a physically distant manner.

Advent is all about the human ache and longing for God’s kindom to come on earth as it is in heaven. By the way, kindom is not a typo. I am coming to use this term more and more as a replacement for the traditional word kingdom. Not only does it remove the gendered connotation of a realm ruled by a male king, but it also emphasizes that what unites us in God’s realm is the way we are drawn by God’s Spirit to recognize that in Jesus Christ we are all kin to one another. The bonds of kinship are the currency of God’s realm. Ever since the bonds of kinship were broken in the garden of Eden we have been longing for these bonds to be repaired and restored. When I look at all that is tearing at the social fabric of our lives, this season is coming at just the right time for us to voice our deep need for God to come near to us and embody for us again the way of Jesus – the great Emmanuel, Godwith-us – who reveals what is needed to restore the kinship for which we are all made.

Join us each Sunday evening of Advent by Zoom for an intergenerational Advent Candlelight Gathering. We will each in our respective homes light the candles of our Advent wreaths: hope, peace, joy, and love. If ever there was a time to sit before the gathering light and pray for hope and peace and joy and love this Advent season would be the one! On two of the evenings of Advent we invite you to transition over to Facebook Live for an additional offering of music in the sanctuary. We are very grateful to our associate music director and organist, Rhonda Edgington, for envisioning and preparing these evenings for us along with others who will be joining her!

One additional declaration made at that June 8th Consistory meeting is coming to fruition: we will gather in our parking lot on Christmas Eve just before midnight with our candles and our voices raised to meet Christmas day singing “Joy to the World!” We will spread out and take all the precautions we need to take – but we will be together on that holy night for those who are able to join us. And so we enter into Advent with the prayer “Come, O Come, Emmanuel” on our lips and in our hearts.

Peace to you, Pastor Jill