Zao Church Collective

After all the loudness of the season, can you find God’s presence in the quiet?

What makes joy so essential to Advent? And what keeps us from being truly joyful people?

God commands us to love Them. Jesus explains that to love God means to love neighbor and self. What if love is not just intended for the recipient? What if the act of loving is what transforms us all?

In a violent world, the first move towards peace is always a risky one. Who will put their sword down first?

How can we take the risk of hope this Advent?

Thanksgiving can be complicated. What if our gratitude could be an act of resistance? By centering Indigenous wisdom, the teachings of Jesus, and practices of reciprocity, we can move from shallow tradition to a deeper, more honest celebration of life, connection, and care for creation.

It's a big week, y'all. And whether this Tuesday has you biting your nails, planning a victory party, or throwing your hands up in despair, we see you. But the hope we have in God - and God's people - is firmer than any promise we can receive from earthly power brokers. Let's ground ourselves in the hope of the Gospel and prepare our hearts for whatever comes next.

The gifts God gives to us are meant for the benefit of all, and we are blessed when others are blessed. In a world of competition and scarcity, it feels counterintuitive - but in God's Kingdom, no one is free until we're all free.

God makes some big promises: life abundant, resurrection, liberation... when it's hard to believe in big promises, sometimes we try and make it on our own - to our detriment. Can we lose God's promise or will God find a way regardless?