We are thrilled that City Church will be meeting at Saint Arnold Brewing Company in this coming interim season before moving into our permanent home at 201 E. 9th St. in the Heights. During these weeks, we will be gathering in the beer hall upstairs inside the main brewery: the red brick building near the intersection of Lyons Avenue and the train tracks that run behind the beer hall. 

“Prince of Peace.” The words are so familiar that they often glide past me. Their alliteration makes them easy to say and even easier to overlook. Yet when I pause long enough to consider them, I realize they are filled with astonishing promise and deep joy. Jesus is our Prince—and he is a Prince of peace.

Early one morning while preparing to write this post and reflecting on the relationship between its subject, the Everlasting Father in Isaiah 9, and Jesus’ dialogue in John 14:4-11, a pleasant surprise: an interruption from my oldest daughter waking up especially early. Truthfully, it was a relief to see her, since I always struggle with the kind of circular reasoning found in Jesus’ farewell discourse, and I wanted to ask her a few questions to better understand her experience of me as a father.

Recently, I had the chance to do an overnight silent retreat in Houston. Getting away from the distractions of modern life was a breath of fresh air and gave me a sense of clarity I rarely get. As I walked, journaled, prayed, and read, something became clear: My pursuit of perfectionism and certainty is exhausting me.

The season of Advent invites us to pause in the shadows and look for light. The holidays bring beauty and joy, but they can also heighten loneliness, grief, or anxiety. We are waiting for things to be made right- in our world, in our families, and within our own hearts. In Isaiah 9:1-7, we are told, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” I would like to believe that the darkness that is referred to in Isaiah is similar to the darkness that can permeate our days, even in a holiday season.

The lights. The music. The food. The parties. And yes–the gifts! As the holiday song celebrates, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”