Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, and this Advent, our aptly-named worship curriculum invites us to explore “Words for the Beginning: Advent Reminders for New Seasons“. From December 1st through January 5th, we’ll dive into the themes of blessing, companionship, risky hope, abiding love, holy laughter, crooked roads and a whole lot more!
On Sunday we’ll visit a story not normally told in Advent, of Ruth and Naomi (Ruth, chapter 1). It’s a story about creating a chosen family vs. what cultural traditions might typically expect. It’s also a story about valuing friendship, companionship and leaning on others in hard and challenging times.
In an atmosphere of political volatility, a rise of authoritarianism and inflamed divisiveness and when the Surgeon General declares an “epidemic of loneliness,” Ruth and Naomi’s example is a powerful model of how human beings need each other. We can’t go it alone.
Join us Sunday when we recommit to this ministry of companionship.
In faith,
Kent
Image from Global Christian Worship and kellylatimoreicons.
