Brunch & Mini-retreat
Saturday, December 11, 2021

In the Fellowship Hall
The women of Advent, The women of Advent, our spiritual grandmothers: our spiritual grandmothers:
Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth and Anna

(Bible Study led by Pastor Christa, written by The Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman and published in the November/December 2021 Gather Women’s Magazine)

The women of Advent: Drawing strength from our spiritual grandmothers by Lindsay Hardin Freeman
ADVENT can be a wonderful mix of emotions: joy, delight and anticipation. Sometimes, however, as we prepare to celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ birth, we may find ourselves consumed with too many details, and even worse, sorrows of years past.
So, in this time of joyous anticipation and somber reflection, what to do about those mixed emotions? Look to the women of the Bible, especially the strong, bold, outspoken women directly connected to Jesus’ birth:

Collectively they dealt with the death of a son, the death of a spouse, harassment, infertility, fear, anxiety and grief. Think of them as your spiritual grandmothers, your guides in traversing difficult ground. If we ignore their stories, we miss out on a literal host of resources — and just perhaps, a richer Advent.