This document contains excerpts from scripture and writings about the theological concept of hope and the season of Advent. It discusses how Advent calls Christians to wait patiently for Christ's return while continuing to fight injustice, and defines hope as living without closure while finding satisfaction in God. The document expresses hopes for 2021, including renewed in-person worship and growth in welcoming all people. It concludes with a benediction praying for peace, mercy, and expectation of Christ's return.

1. Grace to you and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you
because of the grace of God that has
been given you in Christ Jesus, for in
every way you have been enriched in him,
in speech and knowledge of every kind –
just as the testimony of Christ has
been strengthened among you…
1 Corinthians 1:3-6

2. …so that you are not lacking in any
spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing
of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also
strengthen you to the end, so that you
may be blameless on the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful;
by him you were called into the fellowship
of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9

3. …so that you are not lacking in
any spiritual gift as you wait for
the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will also strengthen you to the end,
so that you may be blameless on
the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful; by him you were
called into the fellowship of his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9The Church Calendar

4. You’re supposed to feel the wait,
the anticipated arrival of something
you want so badly, and by feeling
the wait deeply, you’ll be even
more satisfied by the celebration
of the arrival on Christmas Day.
At least that’s the hope.

6. It might be said of Advent that it is not
for the faint of heart.To grasp the depth
of the human predicament, one has to be
willing to enter into the very worst…
Entering into the very worst means
giving serious consideration to
the most hopeless situations.
Fleming Rutledge

7. a feeling of expectation
and desire for a certain
thing to happen;
Hope

15. a feeling of expectation
and desire for a certain
thing to happen;
to hope is to risk,
to open one’s self
to vulnerability
because…?
Hope

16. …as you wait for the revealing
of our Lord Jesus Christ…
1 Corinthians 1:7

17. The theological virtue of hope
is the patient and trustful willingness
to live without closure, without resolution,
and still be content and even happy,
because our Satisfaction is now
at another level, and our Source
is beyond ourselves.
Richard Rohr

18. The suffering, injustice and devastation
on this planet are too great to
settle for any infantile gospel
or any infantile Jesus…
Our...”Come, Lord Jesus!”
(the very last words of the Bible)
is not a cry of desperation,
but an assured shout
of cosmic hope.
Richard Rohr

20. JANUARY
Australian wildfires

21. JANUARY
COVID-19 announced

22. JANUARY
Kobe & Gianna Bryant,
along with 7 others…

23. FEBRUARY
Impeachment

24. FEBRUARY
HarveyWeinstein

25. FEBRUARY
Ahmaud Arbery

26. MARCH
BreonnaTaylor

27. MARCH
Stock Market crash

28. MARCH
Pandemic shutdown

29. MARCH
Schools shutdown

30. APRIL
Ron Coleman

31. APRIL
Stimulus checks for some…

32. MAY
Unemployment: 14.7%

33. MAY
Murder Hornets

34. MAY
George Floyd

35. SUMMER
Black Lives Matter protests

36. JUNE
Mississippi removes state flag

37. JUNE
Trump church photo op

38. JUNE
Rayshard Brooks killed

39. AUGUST
Chadwick Boseman

40. AUGUST
Beirut Explosion

41. AUGUST
Jacob Blake

42. AUGUST/NOVEMBER
Kyle Rittenhause

43. AUGUST
West CoastWildfires

44. SEPTEMBER
RBG Dies

45. OCTOBER
PresidentTests Positive

46. October
Mark Wilson

47. NOVEMBER
Election & Aftermath

48. NOVEMBER
Ethiopian massacre

50. Douglas County: 4,644 cases, 22 deaths
State of Kansas: 155k cases, 1,529 deaths
*As of Saturday, 11.28
COVID 19, Locally

51. Douglas County: 4,644 cases, 22 deaths
State of Kansas: 155k cases, 1,529 deaths
COVID 19, Locally
13.3 million cases, 266 thousand deaths
* As of Saturday, 11.28
Nationally

52. Douglas County: 4,644 cases, 22 deaths
State of Kansas: 155k cases, 1,529 deaths
COVID 19, Locally
13.3 million cases, 266 thousand deaths
Nationally
62.3 million cases, 1.45 million deaths*
Globally

53. - Currently 51 active recognized studies
- 10 currently in Phase 3
- A few have made news
for promising results
Vaccine Possibilities

54. - How will it/they be distributed?
- Who will be prioritized?
- Once it’s available, will people get it?
- How quickly will it impact things locally,
nationally, and globally?
Vaccine Questions

55. ADVENT ~ Week 1
“The cavalry is coming but don’t put your weapons down,
you better keep fighting because they are not here yet. Help
is on the way, but it isn’t here yet.”

56. Hope is an encouragement to
believers in the midst of suffering,
but it also prevents believers from
being content with present
circumstances. Hope insists that
Christians wait with eager longing
for the great day when all of
God’s promises are fulfilled.
Christian Hope

57. - Hope for renewed in-person services
when health officials assure us it is wise/safe
- Hope for more people to know aboutVintage
as a place where truly ALL are welcome
- Hope for meaningful, ongoing partnership
with our global and local giving partners
- Hope for growth in the UP, IN, and OUT
of our life together as a church family
Vintage’s Hope for 2021

58. Benediction
God of justice and peace,
from the heavens you rain down mercy and kindness,
that all on earth may stand in awe and wonder
before your marvelous deeds.
Raise our heads in expectation,
that we may yearn for the coming day of the Lord
and stand without blame before your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.