By Laura Bentley, Associate Pastor

Many beginnings and endings govern the rhythms of our everyday lives. The beginning of a new school year, New Years’ Eve celebrations, birthdays and anniversaries, the start of football or soccer or cheer, the last night of the musical. We have seasons that each year are busier than others. We may carve out space in the summer to escape to the beach or in the winter to snowbird in Florida. As Ecclesiastes says, “There is a season for everything.”

The church calendar may not be top of mind for most of us, but the seasons of the Christian faith are an invitation to a pace of life that slows us down to notice God’s presence in every season.

Advent, starting on December 1 this year, marks the beginning of the church year. This may seem odd that we do not begin with the celebration of Christ’s birth. We instead begin by waiting. The beginning looks like darkness, uncertainty, and quiet trust that God will act to repair the world God loves.

The beginning of the church calendar invites us to trust God, even when we cannot see and hope seems a little foolish. We are invited to practice and to see God in the waiting, even during the hectic weeks leading to Christmas.

As we enter a new church year think about how you might respond to the invitation of each season.

How might you notice God every season? How might you practice the pace of the Christian calendar in your life?