PEC's 2016 Advent Devotional

2016 Advent Devotional Introduction

“The dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom..."

Isaiah 35: 1-10

Peace, Grace and Hope to you all as we prepare for the beautiful and deeply sacred season of Advent. At this time, late in 2016 particularly, we deeply need those three gifts.

Mojave Desert by Steve Berardi

I am SO grateful that PEC can share with you all an opportunity to truly BREATHE in that Peace, Grace and Hope...yet, at the same time, balance it with the actuality which is upon us...that our world has been thrust into a very challenging spiral...of mistrust of neighbor (far and wide) and heaviness of heart in grieving for our sisters and brothers who are in the midst of war or war-like situations...in many countries, including our own... We have also found ourselves in a time, for many, of a tragic apathy toward our Common Home.

Thus we invite you to share with us our Advent Reflection for 2016, based on Isaiah 35:1-10, which begins,  “…the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom…”Our theme... "Awaiting Renewal."
 
I give thanks for our brothers and sisters who have accepted the request to share their reflections with us from New York through the Midwest to Seattle; from Africa to Alaska. We have asked our authors to share their thoughts and feelings about the connection between God's gift of Christ and God's gift of Creation...about the biblical Hope of moving from the dry land to the blossoming desert.

Many thanks to Laurie Fisher, Heartland Presbytery, who has helped coordinate this “gift” and to Jane Laping, who has assembled it, and to all of you reading and sharing our Advent reflection. All of you, as the body of Christ...Hope of the world. Amen.

Diane Waddell

PEC Moderator