Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
Christmas Eve
Today’s author is Prince of Peace’s Music Coordinator & member, Milt Warkentien.
This Advent season we’ve been using “You’re invited to Hope” as our Advent Series theme. Audrey Henningson, Ruth Hagender and Diane Dodge were the creative forces behind our wonderful “lights and streamers wall” decoration, and then many people helped with the other decorating of the Sanctuary. Thank you to all who helped make our Sanctuary a beautiful, relaxing and festive setting for our worship experience.
I believe it’s important to take time for Advent amongst the Christmas commercialism that’s trying to get you to spend as much as you can, all the possible concerts to go to, decorating at home and elsewhere, figuring out when you’ll get together with family and friends, etc. If we didn’t intentionally take time this Advent season, the season probably just became an incredible blur of events, which didn’t allow one to ponder what the Advent/Christmas season is all about. How can one fully experience Christmas, if we haven’t taken any time to ponder during Advent? What does “You’re Invited to Hope” mean to you?
When I start getting overwhelmed during Advent, I think of Charlie Brown yelling out in frustration, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is about?” as that’s how I sometimes feel. Linus, of course, has the perfect answer, so today I leave you with Linus telling what Christmas is about.
My prayer for all of us is that we did take some time to reflect during Advent, and that if we didn’t, we will make some time today. May this Christmas Season fill you with Hope, Love, Peace and Joy, and may you be a beacon of God’s Light in 2026.
Previously…
Embracing Reconciliation
Yesterday, while many of us were celebrating a day of Thanksgiving, some of our Native neighbors marked the occasion as a “Day of Mourning.” This practice and the accompanying solemn commemorations serve as a way to to honor Native ancestors and their stories, while fostering greater awareness and understanding among the public about the destructive history of the white Europeans that colonized the lands which were their homes.
Letting the Scriptures Speak!
As I sit down to write this devotion it isn’t surprising what weighs heavy on my mind: the conflict in Israel and Gaza and its heart-rending impacts. I wonder, does Isaiah offer insight? Comfort? Anything?
When Should I Believe?
Yesterday, I shared the story of my friend and colleague Steve Sylvester, whose son died in a tragic accident earlier this year and for whom our congregation had hosted a funeral . As Steve reflected on the past few months, he was able to recognize that, all thing considered, he was doing ok. As much as this kind of grief could have the capacity to cripple anyone, Steve was surprised by how he has been able to keep going. And he credits his faith as the place from which he’s drawn whatever strength he’s needed to get through each new day. Steve said, “I’m thankful that I believed before I had to.”
The Messiness of Divine Agriculture
I’ve spent my fair share of time in vineyards and wineries; each one is different. In the big business of winemaking, there are so many beautiful facilities, funded by big-monied interests eager to promote a high value experience with their gleaming tasting rooms and temples to the finer things in life. But I have always preferred visiting the wineries willing to show an altogether different side of winemaking, the side that is messy with dirt and leaves and spilled grape juice.