Reflection by Member in Discernment Hannah Sachs
Hannah Sachs is a theatre director, art educator, and Christian lay leader who is passionate about integrating spirituality and the arts. She recently graduated from Yale Divinity School with a Master of Divinity degree, along with certificates from Andover Newton and the Institute of Sacred Music. Hannah and her wife, Renata, found their spiritual home at Spring Glen during the course of their time at Yale and Hannah is now also seeking ordination with support from this community as a member of discernment. Recently, Hannah and Renata moved to Vermont in order for Hannah to begin serving as the Director of Creative Ministries at the First Congregational Church of Burlington.
Though it’s not yet December, I’ve been thinking a lot about Advent in my new job as Director of Creative Ministries at the First Congregational Church of Burlington, VT. Advent has always been my favorite season of the Christian liturgical year. In many ways, I relish this time of holy anticipation more than Christmas itself because it so honestly speaks to the experience of seeking God in a world marred by suffering and injustice. This season reminds us that in order to fully rejoice in the coming of Christ, we must first dare to squarely look at reality and recognize our own aching need for a savior. During Advent, we acknowledge the darkness that surrounds us and nevertheless dare to wait together in it, lighting candles and boldly claiming the promises of God.
In many ways, I feel like I am beginning this new season of ministry in a particularly dark time. Many of my conversations with my new colleagues have been focused on the countless ways our weary world is still waiting, desperately longing for all things to be made right. Many of us are exhausted. We are all grieving the brokenness in our society and struggling against racism, homophobia, xenophobia, ableism, and the many other manifestations of sin and evil that abound. While it can be tempting to give into despair, we are buoyed by the Advent truth that though the darkness is real--so is the light. In the incarnation, God became flesh to be with us, and we believe that God is still with us today--and one day God’s peaceable kingdom will be realized here on earth.
Despite our worship habits, these profound truths are not seasonal. This summer we also need encouragement as we live in this tension of what is and what will be. For this reason, I’m excited to share that Rev. Elissa Johnk and I have decided to chart a new liturgical path and celebrate “Advent in July.” By turning our hearts to hope, love, peace, and joy, even when such things may seem illogical, we are choosing to light candles in the shadows of injustice and inequality. We are not passively waiting--we are choosing to seek God where we are right now and participate in the work of the Kingdom as we anticipate its coming fullness.
If you are longing for a glimpse of God in the midst of these challenging days, we warmly invite you to join us from afar on this nontraditional Advent journey. Perhaps you might turn your mind to hymns and readings you normally reserve for the holiday season and see how they speak to you in today’s context. You might even want to pull out your Advent wreath, and by lighting these candles, claim that hope, love, peace, and joy are still possible with the help of God. Perhaps after you gather virtually at Spring Glen, you could even gather together with our new VT congregation through the First Congregational Church Youtube channel or Facebook--I’ll be concluding the series on August 3rd by preaching on Joy.
Renata and I miss you all so dearly but find peace in the knowledge that we are all still connected by our faith and can still share experiences of God together, even in these troubling times. Though hope may feel distant and our glimpses of light may appear dim, as the angel said to Mary: “Do not be afraid.” God is with us, Emmanuel has come, so may we gather with our candles wherever we are this summer and wait expectantly for the light together.
