ADVENT 2024
YES.
As Alongsiders we join follow the rhythms of the historic church calendar in solidarity with so many around the globe. December begins the season of Advent, a time of waiting, expectation and preparing our hearts for the in-breaking of God into the world for and through each of us. Below are are reflections given at our Sunday Gatherings for the 2024 Advent season.
Engagement Questions:
• In what ways can solitude serve as a space for deepening our relationship with God, enabling us to listen more intently to His guidance and reflect on our spiritual growth?
• How can regular practices of solitude help us cultivate inner peace and resilience, allowing us to navigate life's challenges with greater strength and a more faithful perspective?
• Write out three ways you can carve out the quiet, and share them with those around you, or text them to yourself as a reminder for this week.
ENGAGEMENT:
• In what ways can we reflect God's love and support in our relationships, and how might this loving presence contribute to the joy of those around us during challenging times?
• How can sharing our life with others, and showing up for others, lead to a deeper and more resilient joy?
• What does showing up for each other look like to you? Write out any examples and ideas you have.
Engagement:
• “Love... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Which one of these four do you gravitate toward today and why? Which one will you need to lean into to get through the week ahead? Which do you find hard to hold on to?
• In what ways can Joseph's understated resilience inspire us to cultivate patience and perseverance in our own lives, especially when facing challenging or hard circumstances?
Engagement:
• Place yourself in God's presence. Give thanks for God's great love for you. Try asking, "What is one affirmation God might be speaking to you?"
• Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life.
• Review your day/month/year - recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. Say Yes to those moments.
• Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in the experience. Were you drawing closer to God (consolation), or further away (desolation)?
• Imagine tomorrow - think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God's work. Be specific, and conclude by saying the "Our Father" prayer, or by simply by saying to yourself or each other: "Yes."
Engagement Questions:
• What practices or spiritual disciplines can you engage in to deepen your faith and trust in God's promises, enabling you to embody hope against hope even when circumstances feel daunting?
• In what specific areas of your life do you find it most challenging to maintain hope, and how can you actively cultivate a mindset of hope against hope in those situations?
• How can you encourage and support others in your community who may be struggling to hold onto hope, and what actions can you take to foster an environment of hope and resilience together?