Welcome to Advent Week 1: Hope with special guest Janita Byars, member of First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, NY. Janita, advocate of hope, shares why this asset is essential for Advent and every season!

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A poem for Advent Week One: Hope...
Hope seems as light as a feather, 
but sparks all good, deep things that are yet to come.
Hope is a glimmer of light, in the darkest night. 
Even in the midst of chaos, hope is the new growth of a fig leaf or bud of the cactus plant; 
growing slowly to remind us that Jesus is nearby. 
As the Solstice draws near, days grow darker and colder and a single candle of hope shines. 
A single candle to wake us up to the promise given. 
A single candle to stoke the cooling embers of the heart.
A single candle to give, " confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
A single candle to do the heavy-lifting and give us...HOPE.

Prayer:

Help me to be

Open to

Possibilities

Emerging.

HOPE.

Copyright 2018 T.L.Eastman

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020. Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America). She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.