People of God,
As we enter this holy season of Advent, we are invited to reclaim something sacred and often forgotten: the will to dream. At a time when fear, division, and exhaustion tug at our spirits, our God-given capacity to imagine a world beyond what we see is needed more than ever. Following what Walter Brueggemann calls prophetic imagination, this month we are practicing holy courage to envision what could be, even when the present feels overwhelming.
Isaiah 2:5 urges, “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” This is not escapism. It is spiritual resistance. Isaiah paints a breathtaking picture of people beating swords into plowshares and learning God’s ways as they journey on a new path together. It’s the bold work of confronting despair and choosing to hope anyway.
This is the heart of our Advent journey at ELPC. From Isaiah’s dream to Mary’s song, from shepherds startled awake by good news to Joseph discerning next steps in the night, Scripture reveals that God’s future emerges through ordinary people who open themselves to the possibility of something new.
This December, I invite you to dream again and to dream boldly. Dream of a faith community where connection grows deeper, where justice is embodied, and where compassion becomes our daily rhythm. Dream of a world where peace is not the absence of noise but the presence of dignity. Dream of love becoming real among us in our shared life and the ministry we nurture side by side.
May this season broaden our perspectives, soften our hearts, and stir our imaginations. And may we journey together toward the Light of Christ that is already dawning.
Blessings,
—Pastor Michael