When we hear in the story of the shepherds, we see that they were not expecting anything extraordinary. They were simply going about their work, living ordinary lives, when wonder broke in. Angels appeared. Good news was shared. And suddenly, they realized they were part of God’s story. But what mattered just as much was what came next. The shepherds did not stay in that moment of awe. They went and told others, returning to their lives changed, praising God and sharing what they had seen. Wonder led them to witness. This season is full of moments that invite a sense of wonder. Whether it is through music, familiar scriptures, candlelight, or quiet pauses we did not plan for. The question is what we do with them. Do we let them pass as fleeting feelings, or do we allow them to shape how we live and love? Like the shepherds, may we carry it with us into our conversations and our care for one another, bearing witness to the light that has come into the world.

This Advent season invites us into wonder—yet wonder often leads us somewhere deeper: acceptance. In recent weeks, shifting weather patterns have disrupted our carefully laid plans. Meetings have been postponed, deadlines rearranged, events reshaped. We’ve checked our calendars only to discover that nature has rewritten them for us. But these interruptions carry a quiet wisdom. They remind us that life, like the weather, is not always predictable. There are moments in our faith journey when all we can do is accept. Not resignation—but holy surrender. A laying down of what we cannot control so that God may lift up what we cannot yet see. Advent is the perfect season for this surrender. We wait for Christ’s coming with hope, but also with the humility to admit that God’s timing, God’s movement, and God’s way often arrive differently than we expect. The shepherds were surprised. Mary and Joseph were redirected. The wise men were rerouted. Every story of Christ’s arrival begins with wonder, and then asks for acceptance. So what is God calling you to surrender? A burden too heavy? A timeline too rigid? A worry that has carved out space in your spirit? Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up—it means opening up. It means trusting that God is already at work, even in the disruptions.

Silence has a way of sharpening our vision. It slows us down enough to see what has been true all along but overlooked in the rush. It opens the door to wonder. In the hush of a dimly lit room, you remember, this is sacred. This is gift. And if silence can help us see our own children more clearly, how much more can it help us see God? This week, as we continue our Advent series Wonder, we turn to a man who learned the language of silence in a most unexpected way—Zachariah. His story begins with disbelief and muteness, but it unfolds into revelation, renewal, and awe. In the quiet, God was doing deep work in him, reshaping his heart to receive the miracle that was coming. As we enter this season, perhaps God is inviting us into a similar stillness. A silence that isn’t punishment but preparation. A quiet that positions us to notice, to understand, and to behold the wonder of what God is bringing to life in us.

This week, we turn to one of Scripture's most tender and astonishing encounters, the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth. Both women, carrying miracles they never expected, greet one another with joy that seems to shake the very air around them. Elizabeth's child leaps in her womb. Mary bursts into praise. And in that quiet home, two women become witnesses to God’s impossible, hope-bearing work. Their story reminds us that wonder is not passive. It is active. It moves us. Wonder draws us closer to God and to one another. It widens our vision to see that even in uncertainty, God is weaving grace into our days.

Gratitude is more than words, it's Hands and Feet in motion. Join us and begin considering even now: How might you put your gratitude into action this week? Whom can you bless? How can you show appreciation in a way that reflects God’s goodness?

It’s easy to feel invisible in this world, but your presence, your hands, your feet, and your heart can change everything for someone. Every casserole you drop off, every quiet prayer, every card you send, every visit you make, and every moment spent listening echoes Christ’s healing love. As we step into a new season, maybe take a moment and ask, “How is God nudging me in this season? Where is Christ inviting me to show up?” Together, as a church rooted in compassion, we will keep walking through life’s ups and downs, trusting that Christ goes ahead of us, walks beside us, and lives within us. Healing will continue to unfold, one small act of faithfulness at a time.

In Paris, sermons were preached not in words, but in beauty. From stained glass to carved stone, every work of art whispered the same truth — God is here. The artists who shaped and painted did more than create; they testified. And the same Spirit that inspired them moves through us today. In every meal prepared with love, every song sung, every act of kindness offered, we reveal the heart of God. This message invites us to see how our everyday creativity becomes worship — a way to preach without words and reflect the beauty of the Creator.

All Saints Day is a sacred moment when we remember that the story of faith is still being written—through the lives and legacies of those who have gone before us, and through us who carry their light forward. In Hands and Feet, we’ll honor the Saints who have joined the Church Triumphant this year, speaking their names, lighting candles, and tolling bells to celebrate lives that continue to shape our community.

Together, we’ll remember that we do not grieve alone, but as one body of Christ—sharing in both joy and sorrow, life and loss. As we light candles for those we’ve loved and lost, we proclaim once more that the light of Christ shines through every act of love and service, through every hand extended and every step taken in faith. Even in the face of death, we witness to the hope of eternal life—the light that no darkness can overcome.