Anna’s story is rarely told during Advent, but her life of dedicated worship can teach us so much about what it means to experience Christ and share the Good News.

When we hear the Christmas Story, we always hear about 'the usual suspects' in the story: Mary, Baby Jesus, maybe a little Joseph thrown in…but what about all the other guys? What about the Shepherds? What about the Wise Men? What about the angels? Is there anything we can learn from the Angel Gabriel? Yes!...a lot!!

Matt Farrand starts off our series for Advent using Isaac Watts' song "Joy to the World" to prepare us. Just like John the Baptist did before Jesus' ministry, we are asked to prepare for Jesus. We can do so by looking to the "dust and cobwebs" in our soul that need cleaning, by setting aside time to focus on our preparations, and by treating our pain with the hope that he brings.