With just 14 weeks to go until Advent, we need to begin planning now to deliver hope in the Advent season. Hope is the one emotion that can give life a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, even when circumstances are overwhelming.
What is Hope?
In the New Testament, hope means three things:
- An emotional confidence that we are looking forward to something. We might say, “I have hope and confidence that things are eventually going to work out.”
- Hope can also refer to something we hope for, such as a goal or an unseen future event. We say, “I hope that we will have a great time at the family reunion this weekend.” Hope is the trip or event. However, hope based solely on emotions and things can deceive us. Plans change; people don’t live up to expectations. Life is uncertain. For instance, Timothy’s church in Ephesus faced two of these challenges. First, Paul recognized his own failings and those of others. We can deceive ourselves. He was once a “blasphemer, persecutor, and arrogant.” If that’s the case for Paul, imagine our own tendencies! The second danger related to hope is false teaching. People attempted to lead others to place their hopes (and money) in myths and speculations. They believed that material possessions and financial rewards would be the guiding force behind their aspirations. Paul said both were futile pursuits. So, we need more than just positive emotions or a future goal.
- To have hope, we need the third kind of hope found in the New Testament. Hope is a person at the foundation of our lives. We can have confidence in the future and look forward to something new because of Jesus. Our desires and dreams are built on the hope that has already been given to us in the work of Jesus Christ (1:1). We then make our hope (as a verb) the “living God who is the savior of all, especially those who believe” (1 Tim 4:7).
How do we inspire hope?
With that in mind, we do four critical things in September to inspire hope in December.
- Gather your team to identify the solutions that your parish is bringing to your community. Is it an expanded food market or additional volunteers to assist with English-language classes? Invite your team to work together.
- Schedule hope-full activities. Between now and December, schedule fun events that are enjoyable for your team and your parish.
- Schedule time to thank your volunteers and staff. Block out two hours each week to let people know that they matter. Write notes, make phone calls, and visit your staff.
- Share the story of people who have found hope through your parish. Invite people to share the stories of how your parish has impacted their lives.