The Hopes and Fears of All the Years

The Hopes and Fears of All the Years

In the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" we find this extraordinary line: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight." When we think of Christmas (at least the 20th century US American Santa, Coca-cola, toys, and hot cocoa version) we don't think of FEAR in any way and our hopes are wrapped up in goodies under the tree. But in Advent we dare to take a hard look at what it means to WAIT in hope and to do so in the face of real and present fears. This advent series of messages explores how Jesus meets us in our hopes and fears as prophet, priest, king, and rest.