This Sunday, our preparations for the arrival of the Christ-child begin! I invite you join us, especially if you have not been to church in a while, for a very special Advent Season leading up to Christmas.

This is such a special and holy season. I hope you will make it a point to step away from the secular holiday events to truly explore the meaning and message of this season of peace and joy as we together await for the birth of Jesus.

This Sunday we will begin a new series entitled, "The Unexpected Messiah," which will focus on the ways that Jesus was not the Savior that everyone thought they wanted, but he was exactly what was needed. The series is based on the famous line from Isaiah 9: "A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." In this Advent series, we will turn these historic titles upside down, inside out, and back up again to explore the ways Jesus was an unexpected Messiah, queering and challenging the expectations of what deliverance means for the world.

I am excited to discover new sides to Jesus as we journey from here to the manger on Christmas Eve.

I hope to see you soon on the road to Bethlehem!