Live Advent Album

This time of year is both joyful and stressful: I love the theme of waiting in our worship as preparation for Christmas. Joy to the world!

I find actual waiting frustrating and I would rather have just arrived rather than wait, frankly. I have to remind myself that this isn't just a worldly sort of waiting and hoping for something that is strictly in the future. It's an Advent sort of waiting in which there are two stories. The first is the one in which we intentionally half-forget that Jesus came in order to amplify the glory of Christmas.

The second story of Advent is that we know our God has come in flesh – and we have a living relationship with this God-in-Christ here and now – and our waiting is for his return in which our partial knowledge of him will be made full. This story really helps me day-to-day.

Waiting for a doctor for Katie and her multiple health issues? Waiting to see more visible results of our Gospel living and sharing in Victoria? Waiting to see whether end-of-year donations come in? Each of these can be stressful and irritating and is way too easy to worry as I wait.

But that second story – in which Christ to come is also here in part – pushes against my worry and frees me to engage with Jesus and worship as I wait. 

And out of this worship-while-waiting came an unexpected live album! I've been recording our Sunday gatherings to use as reference tracks for future musicians, but this last Sunday was exceptional so I spent a solid couple days editing the tracks.

Hoping to put out more of these in the future!