Advent 2024
hope

The Peace of Christ’s Presence.

How good does it feel when somebody writes you a personally handwritten note? How much better does it feel when that note is designed just to give you hope, to help you be encouraged?

As part of Advent for week one, I’d like to encourage everyone to write at least one handwritten node of Hope. There are people all around you who need a dose of Hope. They look at the darkness of this world and they don’t see much hope for the days ahead. But you and I don’t place our hope in our nation, in our neighbors, or any person… We place our hope in our King Jesus Christ.

Advent is about the coming of the Christ. An Advent note of Hope. It’s about the coming of the Christ in the life of a person who is feeling so discouraged that a lift up may make all the difference in the world.

Think for just a moment a person you know that needs more hope for the days to come. He could be a family member, a neighbor, a coworker,… It could be anyone. And this note is completely safe to send. The goal is not to proselytize, or try to convert someone to Jesus Christ. The goal is to say there’s reason for Hope.

A second part of this week’s Advent project is to consider someone that you’re especially thoughtful of that has passed on. Go to the store and grab a poinsettia that could be a remembrance on their behalf. Bring it to Northwest with you next time you come, and Donna will have special stickers for you to write who it’s in memory of, who is remembering them, and a special way to stick them both in the plant. Each week we hope to populate the stage with more and more bright red as we think about the people who have gone on before us.

I hope this week for you can be a week of Hope. Jesus says,” These things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace. In this world. You will have tribulation, but be of Good shear for I have overcome the world.”

Some among Us, especially those who are really good with English, will notice that I said Jesus says rather than Jesus said. Well, it is true that I’m referencing a past tense event, it’s also true that Jesus still speaks these powerful words today and we need to hear them as if Jesus is whispering in our ear right now. In this world, Jesus said, we will have tribulation, but we need to be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world.

Walk and hope this week, but share that help with at least one other person. Your note might require you to reflect why you have hope. The Bible teaches us that we are to be able to give a reason at any moment about the hope that we have.

Be careful if you’re sending this to a co-worker not to push your faith in Christ, but to push the hope you have. I know that’s a fine line. But it’s a fine line that we need to be careful at. After all, they wouldn’t be a good thing to give another person hope and find yourself without a job. So be smart.

And lastly, here’s my letter of Hope to you:

This culture we live in can it get me really down sometimes. Especially this last year. I’ve had more than my fair share of physical challenges, and the tension of a divided culture.

Recently I woke up in the morning, it was staring out my back window. I’m surrounded by beauty with giant trees all around me, a little pond with wildlife, living in it, and a pretty well-mannicured neighborhood that I live in. As I look across the street and down by the mailboxes, I can think of each neighbor. Their situation, and their friendliness to me. And it helps me smile. It gives me hope.

After all, when we get a full dose of people telling us there is no reason for any help, we need to really do a gut check and ask if that’s really true. After all my whole life people have been saying the end is near. And maybe that’s true in the scope of human history. But it’s also true that each day that they’ve said that I’ve gotten up, enjoyed my friends, love my family, it went to bed with reason for Hope in the next day.

I hope that you’ll have some help this Chris. Even though. Understanding no matter what. Dune Sayer told you at the end of the world is near, we’re at least breathing right now, I’m writing anode to you right now, and we’re enjoying the piece of the simple things in life.

As a matter of fact, I will end this note to you, but just a few little facts. As I write this. I’m enjoying a hot cup of coffee, looking at a Christmas tree that someone put in the lobby of the hotel on staying at. I’ll join my family for just a nice evening on the day after Thanksgiving. While I can focus on the burdens of this world, it’s also a spiritual ability to focus on the hope that we have. Have a lot of reasons for a lot of Hope in my life. And I just wanted to share that with you.

peace

The Peace of Christ’s Presence.

Host an “evening of peace” for (or with) your friends, family, or neighbors. This doesn’t have to be a big event…just a peaceful one. It could be as simple as inviting a friend, co-worker, or family member to coffee or over for a light dessert. But, here’s the goal: An hour of encouragement and peace. 

It could begin with words like this:

I don’t know about you, but the holiday season can feel really frantic in our lives. So, I was wondering if we could get together really quickly this week to just take a breather together? I was thinking just an hour or so where we set aside all of the tensions in life and just enjoy talking about the good things in life. One of the verses from the Bible I learned when I was young says, “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” It’d be good to set the trouble aside for a short time and just share a few minutes of peace. Let me know if and when that could happen. 

READINGS:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-9
Matthew 3:1-12

The dove and olive branch are universal symbols reflecting Jesus’ value for peace on earth. But many people will tell you they don’t feel any level of peace (and that’s unfortunately true for many Christians). 

Understanding Shalom: More Than Just Peace
“Shalom” is the greeting most commonly heard among Jewish people, and it is often equated with the concept of peace. However, when we think of peace, we typically envision the absence of conflict. This narrow interpretation overlooks the deeper meaning of the word.

The Roots of Shalom
The term “shalom” derives from the Hebrew word שָׁלַם (shâlam), which encompasses a range of meanings including safety, wellness, happiness, and friendliness. It extends beyond mere tranquility to include health, prosperity, and a general state of well-being.

The Consequences of a Lack of Peace
Without peace, we find ourselves in a constant state of discomfort, devoid of feelings of safety and security. This absence can be one of the most challenging aspects of living without peace. To bring peace into our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, we must sow seeds of safety, friendliness, prosperity, and a sense of wholeness.

What can you do this week to foster peace in the lives of those around you?
Consider small acts of kindness, open communication, or creating welcome environments that promote well-being for everyone around you. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

joy

The Joy of Jesus’ Grace

Advent is a season centered on the coming of Christ, specifically the arrival of Jesus. The four themes of Advent—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—represent essential aspects of Jesus that our world desperately needs. This week, we focus on The Joy of Jesus’ Grace.

Many children learn that JOY can be defined as: Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last. This definition highlights that joy transcends mere circumstantial happiness. Jesus stated, “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

This raises the question: How can we experience both trouble and joy simultaneously? Joy is not the absence of sadness or challenges; rather, it is the presence of Jesus. When our hearts are filled with His presence, we often find ourselves akin to many marginalized figures in Scripture: experiencing hardship but uplifted by love.

I’d contend that acts of hope, peace, and love can powerfully generate a true sense of joy in everyone’s world.

Our culture is pretty good at laughter and happiness, but often challenged with deeper joy. It’s interesting how a little touch from a friend or neighbor can bring a glimmer of joy into our dark lives.

So this week, I’ve got a very simple task for you: Deliver holiday joy to your neighbors via caroling, goodies, or just a “holiday hello” (or throw a Christmas party if you like). Many of you have already been doing this, and I’m asking you to consider throwing in one additional act of random joy.

READINGS:

       Isaiah 35:1-10
       James 5:7-10
       Luke 2:8-14

love

The Love of a Living Faith

This Week:
All around us are people who have less. We often spend out time looking at those who have more: More stuff, more money, more friends, more, more, more. I’m reminded of the Captain Hook quote (played by Dustin Hoffman, in the 1991 film, HOOK:

     “No, child, Your mother wants to read to you every night in order to stupefy to sleep, so that she and daddy could sit down for three measly minutes without you. And you mindless, inexhaustible, unstoppable, repetitive, and nagging demands: He took my toy! She hit my bear! I want a party! I want a cookie! I want to stay up! I want, I want, I want, me, me, me, me, mine, mine, mine, mine, now, now, now, now!”

When we focus on the prosperity of others, we often devolve into a position of comparative envy. But when our minds shift towards those who have less, our hearts move towards appreciation.

This week — really in the two days between Sunday and Christmas — let’s distribute love to people by serving others who aren’t as blessed. This isn’t a call to give money to someone holding out hands (although some might choose this path). Rather, this is a call to notice people around you and give a hand of service.

Here are some ideas:

  • Rake leaves for the elderly person living near you (helping them have a clean yard for the holidays).
  • Offer a Christmas Meal to someone around you who you know won’t have a feast. If you know them and know they are safe, you might even invite them over to join your own celebration.
  • Help your local church or food locker with grocery distribution.
  • Call to see if a soup kitchen could use an extra hand around the Christmas/New Year holidays.
  • Visit a local care home to visit with those who will be extra lonely this year.

 

The goal here is simple: Share the love of God knowing that God’s love is truly transformative.

READ:
Isaiah 7:10-14
1 John 4:7-16
Matthew 1:18-25