​Advent is upon us once again.
​It invites us to anticipate and prepare for the mystery of "God with us," but too often, it becomes entangled in nostalgia and sanitized seasonal traditions or overshadowed by the noise and commercialism of a high-street Christmas. This year let’s strive for an Authentic Advent—one marked by honest waiting where we get in touch with the raw humanity and sacred wonder of this season. This waiting embraces the intimate experiences of life—the messiness and joy of pregnancy, birth, and family, and the vulnerability and uncertainty of waiting, holding both the hope and aching yearning for “God with us.” Though challenging, an Authentic Advent leads to a deeper, more genuine hope, one that allows us to recognize the truth of "God with us" in a truer, unvarnished and more profound way. 

Authentic Advent combines Scripture with reflections, drawing from the earthiness and transcendence of the Advent story and the mystery of incarnation. It is also heavily inspired by the reflective artwork of Scott Erickson in his book Honest Advent. Through 25 reflections, exploring themes of Christ’s humanity, wonder, divine presence, joy, and spiritual anticipation, Authentic Advent challenges us to look beyond the polished mechanics of tradition and rediscover the essence of Christ’s arrival—a presence that transforms our uncertainties, longings, and hopes into authentic encounters with God often in unexpected ways.

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