A message from Chairman of the District
Advent Hope
In recent days we have seen and heard the outcome of the Presidential election in the United States of America. It has become clear that many people who had never thought of voting in an election before were moved to do so, because of the sense of hope and purpose calling to them in the Democratic Presidential campaign for Barack Obama.
The Christian faith gifts us with many resources for living, in whatever time and context we find ourselves. The season of Advent, as we look forward with hope and expectation, is a reminder to us of the implicit 'hopefulness' of our faith. This is not hopefulness in the sense of vague, wishful thinking or even of optimism: it is centred upon that profound hope to which we are called, which we have glimpsed as being fulfilled in Christ. Christian Hope is rooted in the sense we have of the abundant potential for good - in ourselves and in the world around us, and in our belief that God's Spirit continually yearns for and works to activate the good - even the best - within us.
The hope to which we are called as Christians is not an optional extra: we are called to be beacons of hope in our world. Hope is a dimension of faith that should be a constant reminder to us that whilst our commitment is deeply personal , it also stretches the narrow confines of our thinking and living and dreaming. Hope shapes our faith into something that demands wider horizons and dreams of fresh possibilities, as we look beyond ourselves to work in partnership with others for the bigger dream of communities of welcome and well-being in our world.
May this season of Advent bring us opportunities of re-igniting that hope in ourselves and others in every carol we sing, and every celebration we share. Especially pertinent, will be the Carol Service planned by the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council, in Bradford Cathedral on Tuesday 16th December at 7pm. It will be an opportunity for Christians of many traditions to join in celebrating Advent Hope from the perspective of asylum seekers from around the world who are now with us here in our communities. Do join us if you can.
In peace and hope,
Liz.