Rev. Ryan's Reflection of the Week

What a joy to "hang the greenery" and re-learn of all the Christian messages that are revealed in our decorations that adorn our sanctuary, homes and city! Thanks to all you pitched in an made our "Hanging of the Greens Service" a festive and fun one. It was a great reflection of our community of faith here at Altadore. . . authentic, easy-going, heart-felt, humorous and dearly devoted.

 A couple of points to ponder as we enter into the Season of Advent this Sunday, November 30.

-- For those of us who pay attention to the Christian Calendar. . . it's our HAPPY CHRISTIAN NEW YEAR! Over the past 2 weeks you may have seen (in the church building) the "Christian Calendar" circle and the accompanying description document called "How We Journey with the Liturgical Calendar" (see both of them attached to this newsletter).  At the heart of the Christian Calendar is an invitation to shape our year and our lives with the intentionality and the insights of the Christian Year. . . a yearly cycle of learning and living out the stories of Jesus. . . and learning and living out the stories of the People of God.  I hope you might consider this way of ordering our lives of faith in a way that many other Christians around the world share in. . . we are not alone in this journey of faith!

-- One of my favourite authors/preachers, William Willimon, offers the following comments on Advent: 

". . . Outside, the days grow shorter and another weary year edges toward its close. “Welcome 2026!” we’ll soon say, 
as if the turn of a number alone could bring something new. One year comes, another goes. Not much changes. The same old frustrations, the same old us.

But then the church gives us Advent—a season that keeps time differently. 
Four weeks to pause, to take stock, and to let God reset our understanding of what time really means. 
Advent doesn’t begin with our resolutions or our determination. It begins with God’s decision to show up, to shake things up, to take time for us.

If there is to be a fresh start, it won’t come from our own effort. 
It will come as a gift. We need a God who refuses to stay distant --
a God who steps into our world and does something new among us.

Good news: that is exactly the God we have. 
Advent announces that the Creator of heaven and earth has turned toward us in Jesus Christ -- God stooping low, showing up where we least expect, and right on time."