Overview

This year’s theme for Advent will be “From Generation to Generation.” Based on Mary’s song in Luke 1, this year’s theme will remind us of the ways our lives, histories, actions, and stories are interconnected and woven together throughout time. Our Advent theme is a call to action: what are we being called to generate or bring north? What have our ancestors and those who have come before us passed on for us to continue? The work of God is always unfolding- in and through us. This Advent, we will remember that we belong- to a story etched in the wrinkles of time, to generations that have come before and will come after, to a love that won’t let us go.

November 27 | Matthew 1:1-17 | From Generation to Generation…there is room for every story

Matthew begins his gospel by citing Jesus' lineage--a good reminder that each of us stands at the intersection of generations past and generations to come. We are indebted to those who came before us and have responsibility to keep the faith strong for those generations to follow.

December 4 | Luke 1:26-38 | From Generation to Generation…God meets us in our fear

When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, she is perplexed and confused—and no doubt, afraid. And yet, the angel’s news is: “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid. We hear this refrain all throughout the Christmas story and remember it is the most common phrase in all the bible. From generation to generation, God shows up in the midst of our fear and uncertainty and confusion. From generation to generation, faithful people have said “yes” despite apprehension. From generation to generation, our ancestors in faith have accepted the invitation. The prophecy in Isaiah paints a vision of what we work toward when we say “yes”: righteousness and equity reign, the wolf lives with the lamb, no harm or hurt shall destroy the earth, a child shall lead the way.

December 11 | Matthew 1:18-25 | From Generation to Generation…we can choose a better way

As far as Joseph knows, his new wife has been unfaithful to him and broken their marriage contract.And yet,instead of punishment,he chooses not to publicly disgrace or humiliate her. This interruption in his life becomes a holy invitation when the angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid.” When he awakes, Joseph once again has the courage to choose a better way.He chooses to stay with Mary,to become an adoptive parent. He chooses peace over violence, grace over condemnation. When have our ancestors also chosen a better way, and when have they not?

December 18 | Luke 1:39-45, 56-58 | From Generation to Generation…we see God in each other

This week we return to Mary’s experience. After receiving the news from the angel, she retreats to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. When Mary arrives (perhaps unannounced), Elizabeth doesn’t just welcome her—she is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks a blessing upon Mary as her own child leaps and kicks within her womb. She sees how God is at work and names it out loud. In this moment of profound solidarity, Mary and Elizabeth see the divine in one another. From generation to generation, we can see how God is at work in our relationships. The way we see the divine in each other impacts how we live and move in the world.When we view every human being as a child of God, we generate a different world.