“Expectant” is a word often associated with a mother awaiting the birth of her baby. The months that follow the announcement of a pregnancy are often filled with expectant hope and when the child arrives, the promise of hope is fulfilled.

Our Advent theme for 2024 is “Expectant: Worth the Wait,” because few things epitomize Christian hope and its fulfillment more than the Christmas story. Yet, the season of waiting upon the arrival of Jesus was far longer than Mary’s nine-month pregnancy. The wait spanned thousands of years. Promise after promise was given about a future Messiah, but generations would come and go before those promises were realized.

The account of the Christmas story in Matthew’s gospel does not begin with the birth of Jesus. It commences with Jesus’ family tree, His genealogy. We may be tempted to rush past this list of names to get to the Nativity story, but if we do so, we may miss the reminder that God is faithful, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of our hope.

Our Advent celebration begins on December 1 and continues each Sunday until concluding on Christmas Eve. Our pastors have again written a devotion book (available in digital format here) to encourage you each weekday throughout the Season. We invite you to join us as we reflect upon the lineage of Jesus in light of His birth. Along the way, you will encounter an interesting cast of characters with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Some are faithful, others have regrettable pasts, but all desperately needed the hope of salvation that only Jesus could offer. As you expectantly anticipate Christmas Day, our desire for you through this journey is that you will find that the birth of Jesus was worth the wait.

Merry Christmas!