Every Advent, we light candles and speak of hope.  We wait for the good news that God is born. We
prepare with pageants and presents. Yet, in the midst of our busy waiting, we know all too well
that the world is not as it should be. Wars rage on, violence persists, new tragedies unfold. God’s
promises are real, and God’s promised day has not yet come. This tension keeps us yearning—for a
new day, a new way, a world made new. This series focuses on the actions we can take as we
move through the night with hope for tomorrow. Night is a time when the way forward may seem
unclear, when our senses are heightened and fear may creep in. And the darkness also brings gifts—
rest, regeneration, dreams, intimacy with God. In our sacred stories, angels often arrive in the night,
calling for courageous action and singing good news. In the night, Mary’s labor pains crescendo
and Christ is born. In the night, shepherds and Magi follow the stars to get closer to God. And so, in the
metaphorical night, we will carry on with the work that is ours to do.
Just as surely as the sun rises, God’s steadfast love and mercy are made new every morning. As
we move toward the horizon, we will cry out, start somewhere, speak up, take courage, build up, and
choose joy. These actions will help us resist despair and put our prayers in motion. Until the day when
God’s love reigns and all the earth echoes shalom, let us keep moving, singing, resisting, and rejoicing—
trusting that God joins us in the work of Advent.