Advent 2023, Pt. 1: Waiting
Take Communion
Leader: Begin your gathering together by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, take a moment to be still and then read Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of Jesus:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Read This Overview Aloud Together
We live in an unfinished story. Christ has come, and he will come again. And yet in the tension in between, there is a world that feels full of absence and ache, with things like unmet desires, sickness, pain, and unanswered prayers. Advent is a season of waiting that invites us to hold both these tensions, acknowledging Christ’s coming in three parts. First, Christ came to be with us, to seek and save the lost. Second, Christ comes into our present, sending his Holy Spirit to be with us as a comforter and an advocate. Lastly, Jesus will come again to make all things new.
In Advent, these three comings of Christ point us to the reality that there are seasons of celebration that often are preceded by seasons of preparation. As we wait and prepare for when Christ will make all things right, all of us have areas where we are waiting for God’s redemption or intervention—for healing, direction, or encouragement. There is an invitation to us in the waiting to know God more deeply and be transformed. Or as Dr. Esau McCaulley writes, “By entering into the larger story of redemptive history, we begin to feel our need for a deliverer again.”
Where are we yearning for Christ to come? Where do we need hope, encouragement, or help? Tonight we want to invite the Spirit to show us where he might be bringing light for our darkness, peace for our turmoil, and hope for our despair.
Do This Practice Tonight
No one likes waiting. Waiting often stirs an anxiety in us that leads us to try and ease the discomfort it brings. Instead of looking for God to move and to make a way, we try to fix or force something ourselves. For our Practice tonight, we are going to explore our own experiences of and postures towards waiting, and then take some time to pray for each other. Waiting offers us a variety of opportunities, like discovering new ways of communicating with God, building trust in God’s provision, and making room for the transformational work of the Spirit in our lives.
Let’s begin by reflecting together on a couple of questions, and then we’ll spend some time in smaller groups praying for each other.
Leader: Speaking of waiting… don’t feel like you need to rush through these questions. Waiting isn’t something we think about a lot, so people might need some time in silence to think about the questions. It may even be helpful to open this time in prayer, asking God to guide our thoughts.
What do you feel like you are waiting for in this season? (Note: This could be something tangible like a job or a pregnancy, or something thematic like rest or hope.)
What are some of the helpful and unhelpful ways you tend to respond to seasons of waiting in your life? (e.g. coping to numb the pain, trying to force an answer, prayer, leaning on Community, etc.)
Think back on times when you have had to wait on God for something. How do you feel like God met you or even changed you in that process?
Leader: After you’ve discussed the questions together, invite everyone to break into smaller groups for prayer by reading the following section together.
Let’s use the next chunk of time to break up into smaller groups of 3 or 4. In these groups, we’ll begin by sharing what we feel like we might be waiting for in this Advent season, and then spend the rest of the time praying together, asking God to meet each person in this place of waiting.
Read The Practice for the Week Ahead
Our Practice for the week ahead is to set aside intentional time to process and engage God in our waiting. God wants to be with us in our everyday life, so take some time this week to think through how you are being invited to share more honestly with God about your desires and pain in waiting. Spend time reflecting on some of the following questions, and perhaps even consider finding someone who really knows you to process through what the Spirit brought up in you.
If you are in a season of waiting, where might God be showing up?
Has anything surprised you about what it means to wait?
As you journey through Advent, you may want to pay attention to the gifts that have come to you through the waiting. What is true for you now that wouldn’t have been true if you hadn’t had to wait?
In this Advent season, what is one way you create more space for God to meet you? (e.g. carving out to time to read the Scriptures, being still before God before the day begins, slowing down, etc.)
It may be helpful to engage with an Advent devotional book or online resource during this season. Follow this link for recommended reading including short weekly Advent meditations from our friends at Practicing the Way.
End in Prayer
Leader: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to bring light to our darkness, courage for our fear, hope for our despair, strength for our weakness, and presence in the waiting. Invite the Lord in so that he can come and do only what he can do.