Watch and pray with the gathered and dispersed Iona Community as we wait for the dawn of a better possible world.

You will be able to watch this service live via YouTube

This is the perfect time to consider Advent themes of light and darkness, or mark the end of the old year and beginning of the new. Because it is all outdoors, be sure to dress for the weather. Sturdy footwear is also recommended.

In this popup learning community, we will explore the complexity of the Christmas story and the vision of the Cosmic Christ today. Since the early Church’s cosmic vision, we have come to know much more about the world scientifically...as well as our place in it.

As the church begins a new year with the First Sunday of Advent, we pray that this service of repentance will lead to a renewed journey of healing and hope within all parts of our church.

The service will feature leadership from the diversity of our denomination, including The Rev. In Kee Kim of St. Timothy Presbyterian Church, who will preach the sermon and the Rev. Drs. Heather Vais and John Vissers, who will share in reading the Confession as part of the service.

The guide is designed to accompany the reading of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Advent meditations, God is in the Manger. These meditations are largely pulled from Bonhoeffer’s writings during his two-year imprisonment under the Nazi regime, from 1943 to the end of his life in 1945, when the Nazi government hanged him for his participation in the active resistance movement against Hitler from within the Nazi government. Set up in four chapters, one for each week of Advent to accompany the four sets of weekly readings in God is in the Manger, the study guide includes suggested spiritual practices and discussion questions to encourage you to engage in Bonhoeffer’s reflections more deeply. You can follow this study guide as an individual, with a study group from your congregation or online.