About Advent Advent is a season of celebrating God's movement among us and our response to that movement. It is not about the good or bad things that have happened to us this week or this year. It is about our expectations for the future. And it is about acting on those expectations. Hopes and fears are not just feelings and worries. They are about actions and commitments. And there is another essential part to our Advent theme: the words are met.
The Epworth Sanctuary Chancel, Christmas 2001.	Where Hopes and Fears Are Met You can take your hopes and your fears to City Council where they may be heard and debated and tabled until next year. You can take your hopes and fears to your stockbroker where they may be listened to and hedged. You can take your hopes and fears to your doctor where they may be drugged or dismissed. Or you can bring your hopes and fears to church. Our faith here is that this is the place where hopes and fears are met. They are met by us as a community and they are met by God. The message of Advent is that God comes to meet us in the midst of our hopes and fears. And that we are called to come to meet God. Shared joys and concerns build community and support. Shared hopes and fears lead to action. The essence of incarnation is the meeting of hopes and fears: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." I want to challenge you to step out on this risky road of naming your hopes and fears.... in the confidence that they will be met in this place and in this time.
	Ron Parker, Pastor  Epworth United Methodist Church, Berkeley, California

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11/25/02