Songs of Advent: Waiting

Welcome To REUNION

We are glad that you are here. We hope that you feel save, welcomed and relaxed. We are going to read the Bible, pray, sing a few songs and listen to a short Lead In. We might even have discussions But.. you’re invited to participate as much as you want. No expects you to speak or share. We do invite you to remain present. We believe that remaining present - even in our minds - is an act of love.

Lead In Notes

• Advent means arrival but intrinsic to that word is waiting, the anticipation and the longing of God’s people for his appearance and especially his deliverance.

  • The space in your bibles between the old testament and the new is merely a page or two of notes but in history it represents 400 years of silence

  • God’s people knew how to wait because here’s a really important biblical truth: it was okay for God’s people to grumble, it was okay to wonder, it was okay to question, it was okay to doubt.

“Israel knew how to wait because they were given permission to be honest”

— Wesley

• The church calendar beings with an invitation to acknowledge: We’re tired of waiting. 

Hope is often defined as an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances. it can mean to "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation.”

• Hope is being honest in a community that has good stories to tell

  • Testify: To share your stories of what God has, what God is doing and what we hope God iwll do again.

Seasons By Hillsong Worship:

I know. Though the winter is long even richer

The harvest it brings

Though my waiting prolongs even greater

Your promise for me like a seed

I believe that my season will come

I can see the promise

I can see the future

You're the God of seasons

And I'm just in the winter

If all I know of harvest

Is that it's worth my patience

Then if You're not done working God

I'm not done waiting. 

Discussion Prompts:

• What is something you had to wait for as a Kid that you do not have to wait for now?

  • what is the hardest part of waiting?

• How do you react to the Church calendar intentionally starting in a season of waiting?

• How do you feel about Hope being a place where you can be honest with God about how hard it is to wait?

  • “Israel was good at waiting because they were allowed to be honest” - How do you feel about this statement?

• Hope is also testimony.

  • If you’ve been a part of church before what role is testimonies place in your community?

  • Do you have any good stories to share?