A season of slowing, listening, and being present.
Advent is the season of waiting for the coming of Jesus, the long-promised incarnation of God’s love. God has always been present. Yet in Advent we wait for the moment when that presence enters the world in flesh and vulnerability, when divine love draws near in a way humanity can touch and see.
In this season, silence becomes a practice of awakening. Not awakening to a God who has been absent, but awakening to the mystery of God choosing to be with us in a new and embodied way. Silence helps us listen for the depth of that truth. It helps us slow down enough to notice what the incarnation means for our lives, our relationships, and our world.
Centering Prayer describes this as consenting to God’s presence and action within. In Advent, that consent becomes a kind of waiting. It is a quieting of mind and heart that allows us to become more aware of the God who has chosen to be present with humanity in Jesus. We are not creating space for God. Rather, we are becoming attentive to the presence that has been holding us all along.
This year, City Church is embracing Advent through silence, presence, and contemplative attention. Join us!
Advent Offerings
Noontime Centering Prayer Sits
Wednesdays, December 3, 10, and 17 at 12:00pm on Zoom
In the heart of a busy season, these short midday gatherings offer a simple pause. We come together in silence, resting in God’s presence and letting our minds and hearts settle. Whether you have practiced Centering Prayer for years or are trying it for the first time, these quiet moments are for you.
In this shared stillness, we find a gentle grounding for the season. Together we rest in God’s nearness and grow more aware of the meaning of the incarnation as it unfolds in our hearts and lives during Advent.
To receive the zoom link:
Read more about Centering Prayer
Advent Salon: Introduction to Centering Prayer
Sunday, December 7, 12:00 to 12:45pm
A conversation with Sarah Dahl and Steven Starfas, facilitated by Rev. Joshua Jalandoon
Join us for a thoughtful conversation in which Sarah and Steven share from their own experience of practicing silence, resting in God’s presence, and learning the gentle rhythm of Centering Prayer. Rather than a formal presentation, this is an open and reflective dialogue about what this practice has meant in their lives and how it shapes their awareness of God-with-us.
This Advent Salon is a gentle invitation for anyone who is curious, new to silence, or longing for a more grounded way of entering the season.
There is no need to register. Just join us in the Gold Room after service
See Calendar for other Advent Services & Events