ADVENT I REFLECTION: HOPE

The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III

Last summer, as many of you know, I was on sabbatical.  I spent those months doing a lot of reading, research and praying.  My focus was on both congregational care and evangelism.  Unfortunately, when I returned, I was hit with several funerals in September and contracted COVID-19 once October arrived.  The latter had me quarantined for almost two weeks and left me in what they call “the COVID fog,” a phenomenon that Harvard University is currently studying.  The fog lifted for me as Thanksgiving approached, and now we are in the first week of Advent.

Last Sunday, we lit the first purple candle on our Advent wreath to symbolize and celebrate the hope that the Christ child brings, and that Christ will usher in at the end of time when he returns at the end of time to make all things new.  (Advent is actually about the latter, as the Lectionary Gospel lessons show, more than the former.)

Hope followed me throughout my sabbatical.  It was by my side when I reentered my office and our sanctuary.  It bubbles up constantly.  It swells my soul, and, I believe, it is the Holy Spirit.  It conjures the words of Jeremiah 29:11, “’ For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  God speaks these words to all of us, not just the prophet.

The hope I have relates to what I said above: our hope and our future are about growth.  I am not just talking about numerical expansion — more members and more pledges — although that is certainly part of what we mean by church growth.  Actually, I am referring to your growth, your spiritual development.  Your job is to help me get people to come to our church.  As I said from the pulpit recently, the number one reason why people attend church for the first time is that someone invited them.  My job (and it isn’t just mine) is to minister to them once they are here.  My job is to minister to you.

I have already been reaching out to our members and friends by sending personal notes.  If you would like a pastoral visit or need pastoral counseling, please do not hesitate to contact me.  As your pastor, I am here for you whatever your spiritual needs.

Advent and Christmas are about the Incarnation: how God became human “to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray,” to quote that old chestnut that we sing this time of year.  In the human face of Christ, we see the face of God looking right at us as one of us to bring us hope beyond compare.  We are to embody and share that hope with everyone.

It all begins here — in our spiritual home.