• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

215 N. 7th, Terre Haute, Indiana

  • About
    • Welcome!
    • Worship Calendar
    • Live Worship
    • Sermons
    • Clergy & Staff
    • Communication
  • Community
    • Blog
    • News + Events
    • Episcopal Links
    • Links for Study and Devotion
  • Get Involved
    • Give
    • Calendar
    • Ministries
    • Service Committees
  • Members
    • Annual Meeting
    • News
    • Schedule
    • Newsletter
    • The Hope Journal
    • Resources

Advent

The Rector's Blog · November 30, 2022

Disciples, Apostles, and Saints!

The word we probably hear the most in church this time of year is “prepare.” Which seems natural, right? We’re preparing our homes for the holiday, our church for its big day, and all that stuff that happens with Christmas.

But the preparing that the season calls us into isn’t shopping and meal-planning. We are to prepare for the advent of Christ’s return.

I really do love getting into “the Christmas spirit” this time of year. I am a big fan of anticipation. So getting fun things, making sweet treats, and wearing fun socks are all part of the season. But even trying to remember that “Jesus is the reason for the season” and “putting Christ into Christmas” don’t actually turn our minds to the season that is actually at hand.

In Advent, we read about the coming of Christ into the world long ago as a reminder of God’s in-breaking love for creation. And therefore, to put us in mind to watch for it now. And to long for his coming to transform the world again.

There are ways these ideas about the season of Advent match “the Christmas spirit” we are familiar with. But perhaps it is less as a reminder to be good and generous occasionally, and more an invitation to prepare for a way of living founded on that as normal. In other words, to prepare for our world to be as it is in heaven.

With love,
Drew

Filed Under: The Rector's Blog Tagged With: Advent, discipleship, preparation, What's Going On

Previous Post: « Gathering more gifts and gratitude
Next Post: Gaudete »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Sabbath and Anxiety
  • A Word: The Christians
  • Preparing for Renewal
  • A Word: Too close to Jesus?
  • Celebrating Service

Keep Up

Footer

CONTACT

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
215 N. 7th St
Terre Haute, IN 47807

812-232-5165

officeadmin@ststephensth.org

ABOUT

St. Stephen’s is a sacramental community following Jesus’s Way of Love.

We worship on Sundays at 8 & 10.

AFFILIATIONS

St. Stephen’s is a member of The Episcopal Church and congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

St. Stephen’s is a member of the Homeless Council of the Wabash Valley

PARKING

St. Stephen’s is across from Indiana State University. Nearby parking lots are run by ISU and are free after 5pm weekdays and are free all weekend long. 

Five marked spots in the lot directly behind the church are available during the week.

Copyright © 2025 · Showcase Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in