The creche of the Holy Family-huddled together in the glow of the straw-filled barn seems pristine, other-worldly, this picturesque centerpiece of every Christmas gathering. But what about everybody else in the Christmas story? Ever wonder why your standard nativity sets only include a handful of characters? Mary and Joseph, a side-angel, a few assorted barnyard animals, but what about Zechariah and Elizabeth there in that inner circle? – and certainly ain’t nobody including Herod. These B-players emerge as extras in God’s story, but might they have more to teach us about the intersection of God’s story with ours? Perhaps we find ourselves in these characters because they seem more accessible, and more real-life than the Holy Family.

Let’s take a four-week Advent journey together, exploring our longings – our hopes and our fears – alongside characters that function more like sidekicks than the main attraction. With honesty and vulnerability, we’ll discover stories of pain and promise – jealousy and joy, as real-life people encounter an incarnational presence: AN UNLIKELY ADVENT.

We will meet on Wednesdays–December 6th, 13th, and 20th
Noon (on Zoom) and 6 p.m. (in Rockhold Chapel)
Click here to register for this study and find more information.