The Advent Journey - Our Mission Journey
Welcome to Advent. This wonderful season of preparation is today often swallowed up in all the joy and energy that Christmas offers. It is still a time of preparation but the energy is about preparing all the external things of Christmas - decorating, shopping, wrapping, and checking lots of lists twice or more.
I love the season of Advent and the reminder of the journey that brings Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the shepherds to the manger, and the Savior to the world. It is the continuation of the journey of God's relationship with us - one that finds culmination in the cross and Easter Sunday's resurrection. For me, Advent is that season when I am called to remember that God has invited me to be on the journey that leads to my own life being shaped in faith for an eternal
relationship with God and a life of discipleship.
Last year, at Advent, we invited you to join members across the Southeastern District to Our Mission Journey. At that time we identified four very new missions/ministries that were about to launch. This year during Advent, we will share their year's journey. We joined in prayer and support the journeys of:
- Missionary Falak Robson and the Muslim Outreach in Baltimore MD.
- Embraced by Christ, Ladysmith VA - a new ministry start through Redeemer, Fredericksburg VA
- Emmanuel Lutheran, Hampton VA's new outreach through a Child Development Center
- The Spotlight Club, Fountain of Life's Hispanic ministry
I invite you to make them a special part of your prayer journey in Advent. I'll share more about each in the days before us.
I pray that in these days of Advent, the days before Christmas that you will find those quiet moments to ponder your journey of faith and to give thanks to God for the amazing moments of opportunity with which he has blessed you to grow as a disciple and to give witness to Jesus, His Son - God's advent to us.
Prayer: Stir up your people, O Lord. Call us to a season where we set aside the busyness of our lives to journey with you in prayer and thought. We remember all who serve and proclaim your glorious name that you will strengthen them in these days of Advent to Christmas. We pray especially for the new work that continues to reach new people with the glorious news of salvation. Open hearts and minds and hands so that all will be prepared. In your mighty and holy name, we are bold to pray. Amen.
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