Common Ground Christian Church

Luke’s gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of Herod...” This detail may seem minor to modern readers, however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. A world not so unlike our own. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, we hear the whispers of angels delivering a surprising message: “Do not fear.” In our own time, we might ask: is it even possible to be fearless in a fearful world? When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears; they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?

This Advent series takes seriously the angels’ message and trusts that Christ’s birth truly is good news of great joy for all people. The series looks closely at the fear and terror looming in the background during the time of King Herod and invites us to consider the fears we hold now. Fear can divide and paralyze us, and even be used as a tool for oppression. But what if we formed a different relationship with fear? Can we acknowledge fear without letting it rule us? Might we catalyze our fears into love and action? What if naming our fears helps us see more clearly how God is breaking in and where God is at work? This series gently invites us to identify where fear is present, both in the Advent story and in our lives, while also finding our way toward hope, with the angels’ voices in our ears.

Every Advent, we light candles, sing carols, and pray for Christ’s coming because we believe God entered a frightened world to bring good news. We hold onto hope because we believe that Christ did come—that’s the promise of the season. Our hope is not flimsy or fleeting. It’s gritty, resilient, and can endure, no matter what we fear or face. This season, let us insist on hope and trust that good news is greater than fear.

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (this year, November 30), and continues until nightfall on Christmas Eve. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Messiah in his first Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his second Advent.

Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and our community, as we affirm that Christ has come, that he is present in the world today, and that he will come again in power. Advent reminds us that we live between the times and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people.

We observe Advent as a deliberate way to join with the church around the world in preparing ourselves for celebrating Christmas (the Incarnation). Preparing allows us to remember our God who is at work. Many times in the Scriptures, God calls His people to remember. Remembering is a powerful way to reset our lives. Remembering God’s faithfulness and deliverance in the past also leads to hope and faith for the future. This is why Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation, preparation, and longing.

Instead of frantically running and consuming our way through the holiday season, Advent calls us to live at a slower pace. Each week focuses on different aspects of life with God: hope, faith, joy, peace, and love. These themes are meant to remind us of God’s redemptive work in our lives and heighten our anticipation of a King who will bring peace, justice, and righteousness to the world.