Our Advent theme for this year is “How Does A Weary World Rejoice?” That thought, you might realize, comes from the familiar Christmas song “O Holy Night” (…a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn). This Advent season we will hold space for our weariness and our joy. We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome joy – even and especially if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways to rejoice.

This Sunday our series begins with an acknowledgement of our weariness. We will hear the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, who had become weary in their waiting for a child. We will acknowledge our own weariness, and take time to acknowledge that weariness sometimes keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God. But we won’t let weariness have the last word – we will acknowledge how our pain can allow us to recognize where joy – and God – may also be present alongside our grief.