Dear Beloved,

How has your Advent journey been so far? A few days remain in this season of preparation, repentance, watchfulness, attentiveness, listening, openness….. In this season of expectancy, how is the God of hope, love, joy, and peace working in your life? I have been asking myself: am I open to what God offers? Am I ready for an unexpected call to reach out?

For many years, “Mary Did You Know?” has been one of my favorite Christmas songs. Maybe because of the mystery and wonder that I feel in the song? Maybe because of the awesomeness of God come to earth – God with us? Maybe because I admire Mary? I pray that this season and in the new year to come, you can be encouraged by the wonder and awesomeness of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. I pray that we will remain attentive to the surprising blessings of your grace and mercy embodied. I pray that in all the uncertainty and unknown in life, you know that you are called loved and loving by the Maker of the first breath of a newborn babe and brilliance of the most distant stars.

With the hope, love, joy, and peace of Jesus our Leader and Liberator~

Sarah

38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:38