Words for the Beginning

Greetings, beloved church, as we enter the season of Advent and celebrate the beginning of a new church year.

This year’s advent theme is “Words for the Beginning.” Life is filled with beginnings: babies being born, naming ceremonies, fresh starts, creativity and new friends and neighbors to meet and build community with. And life is also filled with endings: deaths of loved ones, giving up independence, eras coming to a close, the sunsetting of programs and ministries that have served their purpose. And sometimes, as the Godly Play story teaches us, the beginnings are like endings, and the endings are like beginnings.

We are in a time where beginnings feel like endings. Watching the election returns on that Tuesday evening, I felt so deeply that it was as if I was numb. The storm clouds loomed, heralding the end of reproductive rights, of humane immigration policy, of integrity in the highest offices, of environmental protection for our common home the Earth.

But I also hope the end of the current presidency can also be the beginning of community-building with renewed vigor. Filled with the knowledge that we need each other to survive, we can make it through if we build and strengthen circles of trust, love, accountability and justice. As Pastor Leigh said in her impassioned sermon on November 10, “Even though Empire would rather we think we have to go it alone, we will not. Jesus is there with us holding out his hand to us, reminding us that before we are anything else in this world, we belong to him. We are his followers, his disciples, and that is our primary identity. Our primary identity is not as citizens or residents of the United States of America, but our primary identity is in Christ alone, as beloved, uniquely made in the image of God, children of God. The work we have to do we will do hand in hand with Jesus and with each other.”

So hear the words that will guide us through our advent journey in this church family, these words for the beginning of whatever comes next: You are beloved. We can’t, and won’t, go alone. Do the good that is yours to do. Hope is worth the risk. Love knows your name. May these words enfold you, embolden you, comfort you, guide you, galvanize you, and hold you.

There are several ways to journey through advent with this church family. An advent word-a-day calendar will be available to you prior to the start of advent, and you can choose to engage it in multiple ways: meditation on the word, using the word, or taking a photo of something that reminds you of the word. There will also be an advent devotional booklet that you can pick up that has a reflection and prayer for each day during the season. Pastor Leigh is compiling another of her famous playlists that offer songs from many genres to match the season’s themes. Each Sunday morning during advent, I will be facilitating a Godly Play space in the parlor, where you can experience these stories that we hear every year in a new, wondrous, enlivened way. All ages are welcome. And you also can participate in a collaborative art project led by Kris Garratt, where we will make stars that will adorn the sanctuary for epiphany—we will be making these paper stars all throughout advent in the parlor. Stop by any Sunday after worship to help create a star!

Beloved church, may these words for the beginning carry us through this season and whatever may come with grace, resilient hope, and fierce joy as we are in communion with one another and with the Holy.

I love you, and I love being your pastor.

Pastor Anita