Hello Youth & Formation Friends!
As I was putting this update together, I had settled on the theme of grow a while back. This morning to my surprise, today's #Adventword is GROW! The Holy Spirit at work for sure! One thing I like best about following Adventword is all the different images and perspectives people of faith around the world share, focused on a common word. Just from another person's post on a given day, I am often stretched to think about and look at things in a whole different way.
I love holiday traditions, we have many in my family. I think they are important and offer stability, grow relationships and increase engagement, it is important to push ourselves to see or experience these same traditions differently. If we always do what we always do, we will miss out on the new ways God is acting in our lives. We will be less likely to uncover places in our lives and hearts to make room for Jesus. We won't be able to take on the challenge of sharing and showing the light of Christ in the places that most need it. I believe the season of Advent is inviting us to grow! In the midst of our preparation, we must stretch and grow our understanding of God coming to be among us in the person of Jesus.
I hope throughout the rest of Advent and into Christmas, the New Year and Epiphany you discover new or different ways to grow your faith. In this email there are resources and ideas for the upcoming seasons as well as some twists on some familiar things. In all that you do and experience the rest of 2018, I hope your Christmas and New Year are filled with love, joy, hope and peace.
Happy Advent & Merry Christmas!
Program Officer for Youth, College Campus and Young Adult Ministries
