Advent at Trinity this year is going to be a little longer than usual. We’re taking a full 40 days to enter into this season, preparing for Christmas. November 15 will be the first Sunday of Advent, and we’ll have six candles in our Advent wreath. Especially this year, it feels like an extended time to enter into the longing, the hope, the mystery of how God has come to be with us is fitting. I encourage everyone to join an Advent group, and to find ways to enter into conversation with each other, as we watch and wait and hope for the coming of Jesus once again into our lives.
Pastor Matt Robbins-Ghormley
If you are interested in hosting a group yourself or have questions, please reach out to Harlan.
Week of November 8
Advent as Waiting
Luke 1:39–45
Open with Prayer
Introductions | Especially if a group is meeting for the first time
Warm-up Question
Do you remember a time when you had to wait a long time for something important? What was it and what happened?
Watch Video | “Celebrate the Waiting,” Rachel Held Evans, The Work of the People (2 min)
Read | Luke 1:39-45
Questions
What stands out to you as you hear this passage? What questions come to mind?
Henri Nouwen writes: “People who wait have received a promise that allows them to wait . . . We can only really wait if what we are waiting for has begun for us. So waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more.” Have you experienced that ‘something’ in your life? What is the ‘something more’ you are waiting for?
Play Song (Silent Reflection) | “There is a Longing” (4 min)
Pray Together
Week of November 13
Advent as a Light in the Darkness
John 1:1–5
Open with Prayer
Watch Video | “Acknowledge the Dark,” Fleming Rutledge, The Work of the People (6 min)
Read | John 1:1–5
Questions
When have you experienced physical darkness—driving a car, coming into a dark room, power outages? What happened? How was it resolved?
What are the advantages or disadvantages to darkness?
Do you think Rutledge is correct about racism as America’s original sin?
Are there other areas of darkness in our society, churches, hearts?
How is our world experiencing darkness? Are we as believers “looking into the darkness” as Rutledge suggests?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Word, Life, and Light?
Play Song (Silent Reflection) | “Drive out the Darkness,” Porter’s Gate Lament (3 min)
Pray Together
Week of November 22
Advent as Transformation
Mark 1:1–8
Open with Prayer
Warm-up Questions
Even in this pandemic time, what have you been grateful for?
As we approach Christmas, what do you look forward to and/or what do you wish could be different?
Read | Mark 1:1–8
Questions
What stands out for you about how Mark starts this gospel?
Why was John the Baptist’s role important to Mark’s gospel?
Who prepared you as a way to find Jesus?
What are the consequences of being “baptized in the Holy Spirit?
Watch Video | “Holy Thief,” Nadia Bolz-Weber (2 min)
What do you need “the thief” to come and steal this Advent?
Play Song (Silent Reflection) | “Lead us to the End,” Tom Wuest (7 min)
Pray Together
Week of November 29
Advent as Joy
Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
Open with Prayer
Warm-up Questions
How would you define “joy”?
How and when have you experienced joy?
Watch video | “Joy,” the Bible Project (4 min)
What stood out to you regarding the meaning of joy?
Read | Psalm 126 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
What do you notice in these scriptures?
Why is it so hard to choose joy even in the midst of tough circumstances?
How can we restore the joy of our salvation in our current situation or circumstances?
Play Song (Silent reflection): “Come Light our Hearts,” Sandra McCracken, God’s Highway (3 min.)
Pray Together
Week of December 6
Advent as Wonder
Luke 2:8–20
Opening Prayer
Watch Video | “Filled with Wonder,” Walter Brueggemann, The Work of the People (3 min.)
Questions
What stands out to you in this video? Do you think he is right that we have lost our ability to wonder?
Do you think he is right in what gives him hope? Do you find your hope in the community of Jesus?
Read | Luke 2: 8–20
Questions
What do you notice about the shepherds? What catches your attention? Why do you think God chose them to be first at the manger?
What draws you or repels you as you think of the manger scene?
Play Song (Silent Reflection) | “In the Bleak Midwinter,” Cambridge choir (4 min.)
Prayer Together
Week of December 13
Advent as God’s Risk
Matthew 1:18–25
Open with Prayer
Warm-up Questions
What is a gift that you received for Christmas that you will always remember? Why? What is the most intriguing part of the Christmas story to you?
Read | Matthew 1:18–25
Watch Video | “The Risk of Incarnation,” Parker Palmer, The Work of the People (5 min.)
Questions
What catches your attention from the scripture or video?
What makes God’s choice of an unwed couple compelling for you?
Jesus has become “human flesh and dwelt among us;” what does that say about how we should think about God?
How does the incarnation inform how we should treat others?
Play Song (Silent Reflection) | “O Holy Night,” Josh Groban (5 min)
Prayer Together