How long, O Lord?
Dr Di Rayson captures our collective weariness and longing as we begin our Advent journey in 2020.
This is a series of daily email devotionals for Advent 2020, crafted by a diverse group of contributors, and reflecting on the lament of the Advent story and the hope that we share. Sign up anytime during December.
This series has been crafted by a diverse group of contributors including Dr Di Rayson, Janet McKinney, Rev Dr Kirk Patston, Darlene Zschech, Phil Walker-Harding, Peter Richardson, Aunty Ida Granites with Dr Steve Bevis, Miranda Bennett, Oscar Delaney, Gemma Bell, Rachel Turner, Qwayne Guevara, Peter Richardson, Sally-Ann Williams, Will Small, Rev Thresi Mauboy, Brooke Prentis and more.
About this Advent series
As the end of this year nears, many shared elements can be found between 2020 and Advent: weariness; pain; uncertainty about the future; systemic injustice; needless deaths and suffering.
Into this picture of exhaustion and fear comes Jesus. The Messiah who comes to us in the most unlikely, unexpected form. The God who did not forget his people or ignore their cries. Jesus did not deny our pain or magically fix it, instead, he entered into it wholly bringing healing and salvation.
This year's Common Grace Advent series reflects on both parts of the Advent story: the lament and the hope we share.
2020 has seen an extraordinary global experience of shared pain and fear: the first time that many people have experienced such a thing in their lives. And this weariness is magnified for those already living injustice, whose lament is not new, and has often gone unheard and unresponded. The experiences of the marginalised have been brought to light and made more visible through our shared experience of pain and weariness during this time: our global, national, community and neighbourhood lament.
It is only through acknowledging the fullness of lament that we truly hear the voices of the marginalised and are called to respond. Sitting in lament acknowledges the existence of pain. We become present to the here and now, to the stirrings and teaching of the Spirit. Sitting in lament brings a deep and clear focus on salvation and hope in Jesus.
Sign up now to get this series of daily email devotionals until 25 December. Or save your inbox and read them below.
And he will be our peace
Will Small reflects on how God’s peace can be found even in wounds, loss, and vulnerability.
Met in the wilderness
Janet McKinney recounts the despair she felt as she experienced lockdown in hospital and the surprising ways God showed up in the midst of darkness.
Peace in an uncertain world
Rev Thresi Mauboy captures the anxiety of our uncertain world, into which the Prince of Peace comes.
If not for creation then for what?
In this Common Grace #Advent Devotional Rhanee Tsetsakos and Jared Kartinyeri share excerpts of their health stories and reflect on the power of creation.
A hope-filled future
Rev Dr Kirk Patson explores Isiaiah’s message of hope in our frailty.
Unbreakable rules
Phil Walker-Harding explores the way Jesus breaks seemingly unbreakable rules in this Advent Devotional for 2020.
Wherever my feet tread
In this #Advent Devotional, Darlene Zschech explores the power of our feet and a heart that knows and trusts the love of God.
Sorrow into hope
In this #Advent Devotional, Dr Louise Gosbell reveals the grief she experienced in motherhood.
Joy for all or just a few?
In this Common Grace #Advent Devotional Father Chris Bedding admits his conflicted relationship with parties.
The slow process of justice
In this #Advent Devotional, Rachael Lopez explores the slow process of untangling ourselves from injustice.
Burning with the anger of injustice
In this Common Grace #Advent Devotional Joy Connor evokes the deep grief and anger of Malachi as she reflects on the injustice that still surrounds us.
Ida still has dreams
In this #Advent Devotional, Aunty Ida Granites with Dr Steve Bevis reflect on the seeds of connection.
For those weary of bad human leadership
In this #Advent Devotional, Remy Chadwick laments the injustice witnessed in human leadership and looks to the coming Messiah.
God’s unexpected work
In this #Advent Devotional, Miranda Bennett explores the surprising ways that God has been at work as she has faced 2020
God understands all languages
In this #Advent Devotional, we hear from Mehdi Nasiri, an Iranian Christian refugee who was interviewed by Kate Leaney for this piece. Mehdi reflects on his journey of reading the bible, prayer and what today’s passage evokes for him.
Quick to question
In this #Advent Devotional, Oscar Delany explores biblical and personal lessons in the story of Zechariah
Partnership with the Divine
In this #Advent Devotional, Gemma Bell recounts her journey with an unexpected pregnancy and unexpectedly finding her worth
Waiting for a tiny taste of something
In this #Advent Devotional, Rachel Turner explores the mystery of waiting.
Her cooperative “Yes”
In this #Advent Devotional, Qwayne Guevara reflects on certainty and trust.
Faithful in the silence
In this #Advent Devotional, Jill revisits the weariness, hope and doubt reflected in the story of Zechariah
Preparations for the coming King
In this #Advent Devotional, Peter Richardson draws out lessons in preparation and faithfulness.
There was no room...
In this #Advent Devotional, Sally-Ann Williams touches on our shared weariness and the surprising glimmers of hope which have emerged.
Good but uncomfortable news
In this #Advent Devotional, Rachel Friebel explores the impact of listening to unexpected and uncomfortable stories
We made it
In this #Advent Devotional, Brooke Prentis reflects on a big year and the birth of Jesus: a truly unprecedented event.
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