One year ago, we walked into St. John’s Episcopal Church searching for a place to reconnect with faith and rediscover joy.
This year, Advent feels different. Last year, I was searching—longing for a space to practice my faith, to reconnect with the season, and to rediscover joy in its quiet anticipation. I felt the need for something personal and grounding, but I didn’t yet know where to find it.
Now, a year later, I have that space. St. John’s has become my spiritual home, a place where faith is practiced in community and joy is shared. This Advent, I’m not only celebrating with my own traditions and reflections but also with the wonderful people I’ve come to know over this past year. There is a deeper joy in entering the season together, in preparing our hearts as one community.
Discovering a Spiritual Home
Last year, I was searching for a church that would celebrate Advent in a way that felt both familiar and meaningful. I longed for something reminiscent of my Catholic upbringing—traditional, grounding—but I also knew I wasn’t looking to return to Catholicism.
During the pandemic, I had started listening to a few Episcopal ministers on TikTok, and their teachings resonated with me. Their words aligned with my understanding of Jesus’ teachings and how I wanted to practice my faith. With that in mind, I began looking for an Episcopal church nearby that might offer the kind of Advent celebration I was longing for—one steeped in tradition but open to the journey I was on.
That search led me to St. John’s. It was the closest Episcopal church to our home, and on the first Sunday of Advent last year, Nathan and I decided to try it out. From that first visit, we knew we had found something special. We never looked anywhere else.
Finding Community Through Faith
Over the past year, St. John’s has been a place of incredible growth and connection for me. One of the first groups I joined was the Fiber Arts Group, and it has been one of the most beautiful blessings in my life. This group is filled with such wonderful, creative people—men and women who work with their hands to create art, whether through felting, spinning, knitting, or crocheting. I’m one of the few who cross-stitches regularly, but I’ve always felt welcomed and appreciated for what I bring.
Through Fiber Arts, I not only found a creative outlet but also a way to build relationships. Meeting people in that smaller, intimate setting gave me a sense of familiarity and connection that extended into Sunday mornings. I knew people by name, and those little moments—saying hi, checking in—helped me feel more deeply rooted in the community.
This growing connection ultimately led Nathan and me to a big decision: converting to the Episcopal faith. On June 30th, we were confirmed, and it felt like a homecoming. Though we had only been at St. John’s for six months at the time, it already felt like home—a place where we belonged, where our faith could grow, and where we could fully embrace this next chapter of our spiritual journey.
Now, we’re both involved in various groups—Nathan with the men’s group, and me with Fiber Arts and the morning prayer group. We attend regular services together, but it’s more than just attendance; it’s being part of a community where faith is lived and shared in such meaningful ways.
And this sense of belonging has only grown over time. A year ago, we were brand-new and still finding our way. Today, we are regular attendees at the coffee hour after service, often among the last to leave. Those post-service conversations have become a cherished part of our Sundays—a time to laugh, share stories, and deepen our friendships. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much can change in a year when you find a place where you truly belong.
The Joy of Advent: A Season of Anticipation
This Advent season 🕯️ feels so much more joyous than last year. I’m not just trying to survive it or go through the motions; I’m joyfully celebrating it. Of course, there is still pain, loss, and grief, but this year, joy feels so much larger, so much fuller. That joy is soothing to my soul in ways I didn’t know I needed.
As I look to the next liturgical year, my hope is to carry this joy forward—to approach every season with the same sense of wonder, purpose, and celebration that Advent is bringing me this year.
Reflection on Emmanuel
As I reflect on this past year at St. John’s, my heart is full of gratitude. I’m grateful for the friendships we’ve built, the community we’ve found, and the ways this church has helped me grow in my faith. It’s been a year of rediscovering what it means to belong—not just to a church, but to something greater than myself.
Yesterday during service, the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel was sung, and for the first time, it truly resonated with me. Being the first Sunday of Advent, I found myself paying attention to the words in a way I hadn’t before. That sense of joyful anticipation—waiting for someone you know is coming, someone you are certain will arrive—filled me with a profound sense of peace and hope. It was as though the hymn itself carried the spirit of Advent, that joyful waiting for Emmanuel, for God with us.
What does Advent mean to you?
Share your reflections in the comments below! I’d love to hear how you celebrate this special season.
Learn more about St. John’s Episcopal Church here
Read more about the advent season here.
Heart, Hounds & Hobbies 