Pastor's Reflection 2025-11-20
“An Advent of Renewal – Slow down, breathe deep, make space for Christ”
Advent is supposed to be a season of holy waiting but let’s be honest, it often feels more like a sprint. By the time December rolls around, many of us are juggling shopping, parties, school events, travel plans, extra things at church and more shopping. Even the “fun” stuff can start to feel like one more thing on the list. By December 24, we can end up exhausted, running more on caffeine and obligation than on hope, peace, joy, or love!
This year at Wesley, we want to try something different. Our Advent worship series is called “An Advent of Renewal – Slow down, breathe deep, make space for Christ.”
We’re focusing on self-care as a faithful way to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming.
Some of us grew up thinking self-care was self-indulgent: “Self-care = selfish.” But scripture paints a different picture. Jesus often pulled away from the crowds to pray. He took a rest in a boat in the middle of a storm. He carves out time for quiet, for meals with friends, for walks, for conversation. If Jesus needed time for rest and renewal, what makes us think we don’t?
Self-care, in a Christian sense, is not about ignoring the needs of others. It’s about recognizing that we are not robots or machines; we are beloved children of God with limits. When we honor those limits to pause, breathe, and rest, we are actually honoring the God who created us.
Each Sunday in Advent, we’ll explore a different “idea” connected to self-care. We will also offer simple after-service self-care activities like chair massage, essential oils, gentle movement, and quiet reflection; not just as “extras,” but as lived reminders that God cares about our whole selves: body, mind, and spirit.
My hope is that this Advent won’t just be something you “get through,” but a season where we can relax and enjoy. I hope you’ll give yourself permission to slow your pace, to breathe a little deeper and if you need, to say to God, “I’m tired,” and trust that God will meet you there with compassion, not judgment.
Come, walk this Advent with us. Slow down. Breathe deep. Make space for Christ.
In Warmth and Care,
Rev. John
This year at Wesley, we want to try something different. Our Advent worship series is called “An Advent of Renewal – Slow down, breathe deep, make space for Christ.”
We’re focusing on self-care as a faithful way to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming.
Some of us grew up thinking self-care was self-indulgent: “Self-care = selfish.” But scripture paints a different picture. Jesus often pulled away from the crowds to pray. He took a rest in a boat in the middle of a storm. He carves out time for quiet, for meals with friends, for walks, for conversation. If Jesus needed time for rest and renewal, what makes us think we don’t?
Self-care, in a Christian sense, is not about ignoring the needs of others. It’s about recognizing that we are not robots or machines; we are beloved children of God with limits. When we honor those limits to pause, breathe, and rest, we are actually honoring the God who created us.
Each Sunday in Advent, we’ll explore a different “idea” connected to self-care. We will also offer simple after-service self-care activities like chair massage, essential oils, gentle movement, and quiet reflection; not just as “extras,” but as lived reminders that God cares about our whole selves: body, mind, and spirit.
My hope is that this Advent won’t just be something you “get through,” but a season where we can relax and enjoy. I hope you’ll give yourself permission to slow your pace, to breathe a little deeper and if you need, to say to God, “I’m tired,” and trust that God will meet you there with compassion, not judgment.
Come, walk this Advent with us. Slow down. Breathe deep. Make space for Christ.
In Warmth and Care,
Rev. John
Posted in Newsletter 2025-11-20