Advent Word

LIGHT Advent and Christmas are the seasons of light. The collect for the first Sunday of Advent uses the language of Romans 13:12 and asks God to “give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light”... Keep reading: adventword.org

COVENANT We have journeyed together toward Bethlehem, through all the wonders and worries of Advent. Feet aching, backs bent, head down, we continue walking toward a promise. Keep reading: adventword.org

PONDER Mary receives many confusing messages in Luke’s Gospel: You will bear a child. This child will be our salvation. A sword will pierce your soul. Mary doesn’t understand these messages at the time. Keep reading: adventword.org

QUENCH Do you have your water bottle? Go back to your room and put on some lotion. Where’s your Aquaphor? Growing up, my daughters heard at least one of those three questions every day. Keep reading: adventword.org

LAUGHTER The 8-year-old grandson of a friend of mine once remarked, “You have a funny belly laugh”—which is absolutely true. I laugh loudly and often—even though the biblical references to laughter seem to be associated with foolishness... Keep reading: adventword.org

DREAM In college I used to dream in great detail about my writing assignments. (Yes, I was that nerdy student!) I’d come up with such inspiring ideas while sleeping–only to wake up and realize they made no sense. Keep reading: adventword.org

GIVE Gifts come in all sizes and types to Forward Movement–from stocks and bequests to stamps purchased from the prison commissary. One donor sends us wrinkled dollar bills... Keep reading: adventword.org

REPAIR While cleaning my room recently, I encountered many projects I’d set aside that needed repair, including a broken piece of pottery Kaia made–one of her earliest and favorite pieces. Keep reading: adventword.org

SPIRIT The Gospel of Luke presents the Advent narrative in such a way that even before Jesus’s birth, the Spirit is already a main character. Keep reading: adventword.org

BEGIN It feels odd to talk about resolutions in the middle of December. Surely those can wait for the beginning of the year–after we have had parties, Christmas dinners, and stockings filled with treats. Keep reading: adventword.org

HASTEN As a parent of small children, my whole life feels like either hurrying or waiting. Hurrying to church or school. Waiting as my kid, determined to practice his new skill, very slowly zips up his own coat. Keep reading: adventword.org

PATIENCE My daughter Kaia signed up for a pottery class as a graduate student studying to be a landscape architect. Keep reading: adventword.org

TRUTH There are, in the Psalter, over a dozen references to emet (“truth”), and I believe they are all associated with three parts of the body: the heart, the mouth, and the feet. Take, for example, Psalm 15:1-2. Keep reading: adventword.org

VALLEY Armies in valleys are vulnerable. The valleys of our lives and faith bring tenderness. We are pelted with slander from neighbors, barraged with news of war and famine, battling hunger and poverty, and oppressed... Keep reading: adventword.org

HERALD News traveled slower in Isaiah’s time than it does today. When something out-of-the-ordinary happened, folks didn’t find out about it from a text on the group chat or a post on social media. Keep reading: adventword.org

GLORY We offer glory to God in our prayers; it’s not as often that we hear about receiving God’s glory. Yet, we prepare to welcome God’s glory in the form of a baby. Keep reading: adventword.org

AWAKE The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13) emphasizes the importance of staying spiritually vigilant. In the parable, all the bridesmaids fall asleep; but at midnight, when the bridegroom comes, only the wise... Keep reading: adventword.org

WATCH Few experiences rival the attentiveness that comes when my children welcome me or their father home after time away. Keep reading: adventword.org

GRACE When my father says grace before a meal, the beginning of his prayer often varies–giving thanks for family and guests, celebrating special moments. Keep reading: adventword.org

PEACE Peace is my favorite greeting. I love that I can share it verbally and non-verbally with a peace sign. My favorite way to think about peace during Advent is one of the definitions of shalom - completeness. Keep reading: adventword.org