Our Advent 2024 series, “Words for Beginning: Advent Reminders for New Seasons” prepares us for the birth of Christ within the world and in our lives by taking us through the familiar nativity narrative that reminds us who we are and whose we are. In the well-known stories are words of hope, peace, love and joy, words for beginning new seasons. The creators of “Words for Beginnings” (sanctifiedart.org) describe our series in this way: “Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings – large and small, personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new. Christ’s birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike – all the while, King Herod tried to bring Christ’s story to an end. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.” My prayer is that our Advent journey together at Calvary UMC will be a season of hope and joy as we are again reminder that we are loved, we are forgiven, and we are seen by the God of all creation. I look forward to Sunday mornings and pausing in the busyness of December with you to hear anew the story of Christmas, to hear words for beginning. -Rev. Amy Beth Coleman