Advent begins

Advent is the forgotten season. That’s ok. While the world is already in full swing Christmas mode, with Christmas music, decorations, shopping, and more, the church finally has an opportunity to do something unusual — be countercultural. Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation in a culture that has no concept of what it means to wait. Advent is a season of offering hope and light to a world that is plunged into a deep void of despair.

It’s tough to keep track of the number of mass shootings that happen in this country now. They have become all too common. And our response? “Thoughts and prayers.”…