5 Sunday mornings
November 24 – December 22
10:05-11:05am
Sanctuary building
Room 206
(parlor, main level, accessible)
Facilitator: Marilyn Hoeflinger.
God came to meet us in the low places of our lives
“Let’s be honest about Advent: American culture forces many of us to put on a happy face, to pretend we’re merry when we’re frustrated and stressed and exhausted by the expectations of others. We’re also frustrated by what Advent has become—a celebration of consumerism—while it forgets the season’s origins in a dark, cold stable with an empty manger.
“In this honest Advent devotional, best-selling progressive Christian author John Pavlovitz reminds us that God came to meet us in the low places of our lives—and that Jesus continues to come low this Advent season: when we live humbly, when we seek forgiveness, in our grief and suffering, when we act on behalf of someone else, when we pray. As we walk the road of Advent, Jesus reminds us the invitation is not to escape this world to an elevated Heaven somewhere else, but to bring Heaven down. “God with us” is Jesus, getting low. Each devotional includes a scripture and Advent reflection on Jesus meeting us on the ground, in the grit.” (From the author’s website, link below)
How do we encounter the story of the young Palestinian Jewish family fleeing politically-ordered genocide and the raising of a young Jewish Rabbi who preached much more than he should have known and suffered with government officials when he questioned the religious status quo? Can we relate to the Jesus who comes low to meet us in our lives today, as opposed to sanitizing the stories because we know the end of the story?
Low: An Honest Advent Devotional (Chalice Press, 2019), by John Pavlovitz, is a daily devotional with scriptural basis and important reflective questions about who we are and who we want to be during the Advent season. This class will meet once a week in person on Sunday mornings and focus on the Advent themes (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love), as well as connecting other words — such as mess and uncertainty — to help each of us see where we struggle and yet continue to live as Jesus followers.
Get your own copy of the book (about $5.57)
The only cost is the cost of the devotional book – get your own copy, (If the cost of the book would keep you from participating, let Beth Palmer know and she’ll happily order you a copy!)
We invite voluntary contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer opportunities such as this, and we’re humbled by and grateful for your donations.