Justified and Just: Advent 2022 Devotions from Grace Lutheran Church

For Advent 2022, I invited lay leaders of Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, IL, to participate in a collaborative ministry project called Justified and Just: Saved and Sent by the Coming Christ. The hope was to create a conversation between voices of lay people, on the one hand, and my preaching voice, on the other.

Lay leaders were given the following invitation and instruction:

Dear friend in Christ,

Would you write a daily devotion for Grace’s 2022 observance of Advent?

As in past years, these 300-word devotions will be complied into a booklet and distributed online. If you are willing, you will receive a short Bible passage on which to base your devotion.

This year’s theme is Justified and Just: Saved and Sent by the Coming Christ. This theme will also center our midweek Advent worship services. In combination, the devotions and worship services & sermons will contribute to my Doctor of Ministry final project, an exploration of the connection between God’s justifying act of grace toward us and God’s call for us to work for justice in this world.

In short, the idea is to write a devotion with this in mind: “How does what God has done for me lead me to live in this world?”

The devotions this year will be written exclusively by laypeople, not pastors. You are being invited because you have served in the past as an Elder at Grace. Your faithfulness and wisdom are such gifts to this congregation.

Please reply to Julie Hinz if you are willing to participate. A response by September 26 would be enormously helpful.

Thank you for your consideration. Your voice is valued in this congregation, and I hope you’ll share it with us this Advent. If you accept this invitation, you’ll receive more information about your particular assignment in early October.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Lyle

You may view the devotional booklet in its entirety here: Justified and Just Advent Devotions

The three midweek services of Evening Prayer are also available to view:

• November 30, 2022
• December 7, 2022
• December 14, 2022

All in the, Justified and Just was a fruitful way to engage members of Grace in mutually upbuilding conversation, and greatly benefitted my preaching during the season of Advent. I look forward to similar ventures in the future!