Advent Devotions 2023

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It’s mid-October as I write this introduction for our annual Advent Devotionals provided by the laity, the all-called people, of the West Virginia Conference. We have just recognized the ministry of laity with the celebration of Laity Sunday. I’m also thinking back to Annual Conference this past June and its theme from Isaiah 52:7-12 – Proclaim Peace, Bring Good News! You might ask, what do either one of those have to do with Advent Devotionals? The answer is simple: everything!

We’re in a season of preparation for the arrival of the Christ-Child. There is no better time of the year to Proclaim Peace and Bring the Good News than the Advent and Christmas seasons. It is here that we encounter God’s gift of faith, where grace in Christ is revealed. We might also remember those whose care and love brought us to know faith and grace in Jesus – those who proclaimed peace and brought us the good news. That same love is calling us to bring others along with us into God’s healing life, and it encourages joy, gentleness, and prayer. Indeed, there is promised peace that comes from truly embodying that God is with us no matter what.

One of my favorite Christmas carols is “O Holy Night.” Take a look at the third verse sometime. To me, it exemplifies our charge to proclaim peace and share the good news:

“Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace…
His power and glory evermore proclaim!”

As you journey through Advent and Christmas, I invite you to meditate on these devotions, written by laity, but provided for all to utilize, clergy and laity alike. May they encourage us and challenge us on our own discipleship pathways. And may we all go into the world, sharing ourselves and proclaiming God’s loving kindness, justice, and peace, in words and deeds
that bring life and hope.

Wishing you a season of abundant blessings,

Kristi Wilkerson
Conference Lay Leader

P.S. I hope you’ll join me in thanking our laity writers, Conference leaders who assisted with assembling them, and especially our Associate Conference Lay Leader, Kim Matthews, who coordinated these Advent Devotionals this year. They are all a gift and a blessing to the West Virginia Conference as they proclaim peace and share the good news!

To print or read the devotions as a booklet, download it here.

Follow this link to watch weekly Advent Devotion Videos from Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball.