The Bright Valley - Loveland Vineyard Community

Join us and Vineyards around the nation for our Advent Series: The Bright Valley.

“In the church, this is the season of Advent. It’s superficially understood as a time to get ready for Christmas, but in truth it’s the season for contemplating the judgment of God. Advent is the season that, when properly understood, does not flinch from the darkness that stalks us all in this world. Advent begins in the dark and moves toward the light—but the season should not move too quickly or too glibly, lest we fail to acknowledge the depth of the darkness. As our Lord Jesus tells us, unless we see the light of God clearly, what we call light is actually darkness: “how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23). Advent bids us take a fearless inventory of the darkness: the darkness without and the darkness within.”

― Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ

If we look carefully at the liturgies surrounding Advent, and at the way that the church globally has observed Advent, we’ll find that Advent is more about lament. Lament that the Lord once came and that He left. And so Advent perhaps is more a valley than a merry and bright high place.

If it’s a valley, then that means that Advent is about light coming into dark places. Advent is fundamentally about hope, peace, joy, and love breaking in. It is the bright light in the Valley.