As you know, we are using photography (with the help of Instagram and Facebook), to share images that express Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, during the four weeks of Advent. This coming Sunday is Gaudete Sunday, the Latin word for "rejoice", and we light the candle of Joy.

 

The image I'm sharing that expresses Joy for me is of our family Christmas tree. I have such fond memories of sitting in the light of the tree in the early morning, when the rest of the house is still dark and quiet. Even as an adult, it brings me such joy to sit quietly in the early morning with the lit tree. 

 

Advent is traditionally a time of reflection and penitence as we prepare for the birth of Jesus. And it might seem a little out of place to focus on Joy this third Sunday of the season. After all, shouldn't that be reserved for Christmas Day? But Gaudete Sunday is intentionally designed to be a break from our preparations, to remind us to look for joy along the way to the joy to come.

 

There's a lesson for us in this. We can put a lot of focus and a lot of pressure on Christmas Day, wanting everything to be just right. We look for the perfect gifts, we hope for snow on the ground, we pray everyone will get along. But maybe Joy Sunday is a reminder to take some of the pressure off of Christmas Day and be on the lookout for the joy that is present now, along the way of preparing for the joy to come. In all of life, there are joys we hope for - when longed for things come to fruition. But we tend to put a lot of pressure on those hoped for things. And when we are too focused on them, sometimes we can miss the sources of joy already around us.

 

I invite you to join me in sharing images of what brings you joy this Advent season. Details of how to do it are below.

 

#MontviewAdvent  #SeasonOfJoy #MontviewChurch

 

We are hoping that you will join us in using your smart phone or tablet to reflect on this Advent season. After reading this email, we'd love for people to snap a picture that expresses the candle themes of Advent; Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Then post the photo to your Instagram and also to Montview's Facebook page with the hashtag #MontviewAdvent. This is an opportunity to slow down and reflect on our surroundings and to share our photos with each other. The picture above is Ian's reflection on the Candle of Joy. You can follow Montview on social media at www.instagram.com/montviewchurch and www.facebook.com/montviewchurch.