As we enter this new season, I want to take a moment to talk about something that might be new for you: Advent.

The word simply means arrival, but it’s long been connected to another idea many of us wrestle with…waiting. And waiting usually brings out one of two responses in us:
we’re either filled with excitement for something good, or we’re anxious about something uncertain.

Maybe you’re waiting for a prayer to be answered.
Or you’re waiting for direction.
It may be you’re just hoping life will slow down enough to breathe again.

No matter what you’re waiting for, Advent gives us a chance to approach these weeks leading up to Christmas a little differently.

What Advent Is Really About

Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is November 30 this year. It’s a short season, but a meaningful one. It invites us to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus: God entering our world as fully God and fully man, fulfilling His plan to free us from sin and bring us life through His death and resurrection.

That is incredibly good news.

By this point in the year, most of us have already been surrounded by Christmas lights, decorations, and music, sometimes since before Halloween. Those things are fun, but Advent calls us into something deeper. It’s not about gift lists, decorations, or even the daily chocolate from an Advent calendar (though no judgment if you’re a fan).

Advent is about intentional waiting – a chance to slow down in the middle of the busy season and remember what, and who, we’re truly celebrating.

Four Weeks, Four Themes

Over the next four weeks, we’ll walk through four traditional Advent themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each one reveals something about God’s story and how it connects to our own.

To help guide you, we’ll be sharing a weekly Advent reading plan through YouVersion. These readings are simple and accessible, something you can do in a few quiet minutes each day.

It’s an opportunity to pause, breathe, listen, and ask God to help you wait well.

Why Scripture Matters Here

One of our core values as a church is that the Bible is our guide. We believe God’s Word leads us, shapes us, and shows us who He is.

During Advent, when we read Scripture together, we aren’t just revisiting stories we’ve heard a hundred times. We are encountering the living Word of God, the Word who became flesh and made His home among us.

Jesus modeled this kind of intentional rhythm throughout His ministry. He stepped away to rest and pray. He listened and encouraged His disciples to do the same. Advent is our opportunity to follow His example and create space in our lives for God to speak.

Light in the Darkness

None of us approaches Christmas perfectly. And that’s okay. The point isn’t perfection, it’s presence.

John 1 paints a beautiful picture of what we’re celebrating:

  • The Word was with God from the beginning.

  • His life brought light to everyone.

  • That light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

  • God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

This is what Advent leads us toward:
Light breaking into darkness.
Hope breaking into discouragement.
Love breaking into a weary world.

Join Us This Advent

As Advent begins, let’s choose to wait with expectation, trusting that God meets us right where we are. Our prayer is that this Christmas looks and feels a little different for you, that you notice God’s presence in new ways, and that you experience His peace even in the waiting.

And we would love for you to join us on this journey.

Join our Advent Bible Reading Plan.

Commit to read Scripture together.
We will prepare room in our hearts for Jesus.
Let’s welcome His arrival, side by side.

Advent Plan: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/28220