Pastor’s Pen

Pastor Jenna

December 2024

Dear St. Andrew Family of Faith,

It is so good to be back with you all after my parental leave! I know I’ve already said this, but I’ll say it again: thank you for all your prayers, care, gifts (for both Teddy and Ellie), and all the ways you’ve loved and supported us in this season. The meal train was AMAZING and we had some fantastic meals that we never would have made for ourselves, your gifts have been meaningful and deeply appreciated, and your prayers have been a balm for our souls. Thank you.

As we adjust back to our two-worship schedule, we also step into the season of Advent. While I can be oh so quick to look ahead to Christmas and skip right over Advent, our liturgical calendar ensures that we are re-grounded in this season for the four Sundays leading up to December 24 and 25. To support our Advent worship and spiritual disciplines, we will once again be using A Sanctified Art (ASA) for our Advent theme.

The theme, “Words for the Beginning”, marks the time when the church year ends on Christ the King Sunday and begins again with Advent 1—just as we prepare for the end of the calendar year. The creators at ASA explain that the theme started with the question of “[what words would] Mary speak to her newborn son? What scriptures and stories would she impart to him? What lessons would she teach him as he grew? In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings— large and small, personal and political. And yet, Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new. As we also move through new personal and political chapters, may these words for the beginning renew us and remind us of the ways we are called to live out our faith. No matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, let love be your beginning.”

May this season of waiting and anticipating the birth of the True King, our Savior, be holy and hopeful for you.

Blessings,
Pr Jenna