Christmas in the Desert

by Wayne Wynterin Uncategorizedon Posted on

Wassup Beloved—this year our Advent journey flows from the heart of our new Membership Packet. We’re learning (or re‑learning), ancient rhythms shaped by the Desert Mothers & Fathers. In the 3rd–4th centuries, when faith got tangled up with the culture of the empire, men and women stepped into the desert—not to escape the world, but to be reshaped by Jesus for the sake of the world. Their small communities became oases: places of prayer, simplicity, shared life, and courageous love.

At Alhambra Beloved, we follow that same spirit. Our city is a modern desert—marked by abandonment, injustice, and spiritual hunger.

Our aim: be a modern‑day oasis in Phoenix—in the city, for the city—formed by God’s love, not empire.

This Advent we’ll explore what that looks like here at Beloved in 4 Movements:

  • Week 1: HOPE – A people shaped by God’s love, not empire
  • Week 2: PEACE – A counter‑cultural community
  • Week 3: JOY – A spiritual family
  • Week 4: LOVE – A prophetic presence

Each week you’ll receive:

Some backstory and words of encouragement, a simple Desert Practice, a “Give us a word” saying, and a Nightly Examen to pray at home during the week starting with each Sunday.

“Give us a word” — weekly sayings to carry us through 

  • A short word from the desert/monastic/contemplative tradition to meditate on

Nightly Examen — a simple end‑of‑day prayer

Weekly focus prompts:

  • Week 1 (HOPE): Where did speed/status/scarcity disciple me today? One small resistance for tomorrow (silence, slowness, hiddenness).
  • Week 2 (PEACE): Where did I avoid or center myself? One peacemaking step (sit with, listen to, reconcile with someone).
  • Week 3 (JOY): Did I withdraw from offering/receiving family wisdom? One act of belonging (blessing note, check‑in, invitation).
  • Week 4 (LOVE): Where did I keep distance? One concrete act of nearness (visit, meal, ride, advocacy).

A collect for the season

Almighty God, Father of creation, who fashions oases in the wilderness: reform us in love, gather us as family, and send us as a prophetic presence, that our neighbors may encounter Your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ancient tools. Modern ache. Let’s become an oasis together.

Series schedule:

  • November 30, 2025: HOPE – Love is Greater than Empire
  • December 7, 2025: PEACE – Peace is greater than Polarization
  • December 14, 2025: JOY – Family is Greater than Isolation
  • December 21, 2025: LOVE – Presence is Greater than Performance
  • December 24, 2025: CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Week 1 : HOPE

A People Shaped by God’s Love (not the culture of empire) 

By the fourth century, the church was powerful—yet tangled in the empire’s ways. Some realized their worship sounded Christian but looked and smelled like Rome. So they did something radical: they went into the desert, not to escape, but to be re-formed by God’s love. Advent Hope is that same holy revolt—the light breaking in. We’re learning to be shaped by Christ, not by speed, status, scarcity or any of the idols of culture screaming to shape our hearts.

Sermon: “Comfort in a Land of Noise”

Primary Texts: Isaiah 40:1–5

Big Idea: Hope is not optimism—it’s allegiance. We are remade by Love, not by the cultures scripts (hustle, platform, outrage, empire).

  • Give us a word:: “Flee (from noise), be silent, pray always.” — Abba Arsenius
  • Nighty Examen: 
    • Give thanks: Where did I taste God’s love today?
    • Notice the formation: Where did speed/status/scarcity disciple me?
    • Confess & receive: Ten minutes of silence. Let Love—not empire—set the rhythm of your heart. Name one moment; receive mercy.

Prayer : “God of comfort, quiet our noise and anchor our hope in Your love.”

Week 2:  PEACE 

A Counter-Cultural Community 

In the desert many formed (shared-life) communities—simple rules, shared tables, peacemaking across differences. Peace looked like a new social order.” Their communities were small, imperfect, but they were a living protest to the way the world had deformed them. “Advent is not about  sentimental peace. It is God announcing a different kind of kingdom in the middle of a violent, divided one.

Sermon: “Wolves and Lambs at One Table”

Primary Text: Isaiah 11:1–9

Big Idea: Peace isn’t avoidance—it’s re-ordered life together. The Church is a visible foretaste of Christ kingdom without polarization and partiality.

  • Give us a word: “Our life and our death is with our neighbour. If we gain our brother, we have gained God; but if we scandalize our brother, we have sinned against Christ. – Abba Anthony (Peace is relational, not private.)
  • Nightly Examen
    • Give thanks: Where did I see reconciliation or welcome?
    • Notice division: Where did I avoid, center myself, or judge?
    • Be intentional: Who do I need to text/call or pray for? Shared Table — one intentional meal with someone different from you (age, culture, politics). Pray the Lord’s Prayer before eating. – Dinner with the city invite 

Prayer:  “Prince of Peace, make us one people in Your Kingdom.”

Week 3: JOY

A Spiritual Family  

 “In the desert, elders were known as Abbas and Ammas—spiritual fathers and mothers recognized not by status but by maturity in the Spirit. In Jesus, God rebuilds family—so our joy isn’t just a feeling; it’s the sound of a household forming.” Advent joy is familial—Jesus births a new household where spiritual fathers and spiritual mothers midwife faith, healing family wounds and discipling the flock to maturity, as a continuous, work of the spirit revealing, and caring for the household of God.

Sermon: “Joy of Belonging: Ammas, Abbas, and the Child who Makes Us Family”

Primary Texts: Luke 1:39–56 

Big Idea: Joy is familial—God births a people. We honor spiritual fathers and spiritual mothers who midwife faith mentor and disciple faith in us

  • Give us a word: “Receive everyone as Christ.” (Honor through familial belonging.) Rule of Benedict, ch. 53
  • Nightly Examen
    • Give thanks: Name 2-3 spiritual Mothers and / or  Fathers in the faith that helped to influence your walk. Send a message of encouragement and Blessing.
    • “Notice withdrawal Did I sense the Spirit prompting me to offer wisdom, encouragement, or presence like a spiritual mother or father—but I pulled back? Was there an opportunity to seek wisdom from someone God has placed in my life—but I stayed silent or self-reliant?
    • Name a person: One action of family this week: invite someone to your table, or check in with someone the lord is calling you to disciple  or pour into “mothering/fathering.”

Prayer: Pray Psalm 68 for fatherless/motherless homes in our church. “Father of the fatherless, raise up fathers and mothers among us.”

Week 4 — LOVE

A Prophetic Presence 

“The desert wasn’t escape; it was formation for mission. The Ammas and Abbas learned to love God in silence so they could love people in both the highest and lowest areas of life. Formed in prayer, they returned to towns with open tables, healing, and courage” Advent Love is embodied and local—prophetic presence means prayer + proximity + practice for the sake of our neighbors.

Sermon: “The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Us”

Primary Texts: Isaiah 61:1–4; Luke 4:16–21; John 1:14

Big Idea: Love shows up. Prophetic presence is Spirit-empowered nearness to the poor, the broken, the confused—right here in Alhambra.

  • Give us a word: “As we draw near to God, we draw near to one another; and the more we are united to our neighbor, the nearer we are to God. -Dorotheos of Gaza (6th-cent. monastic teacher)
  • Nightly Examen
    • Give thanks: Where did Love move me toward someone’s need?
    • Notice avoidance: Where did I keep distance or hold onto power/comfort?
    • Intercede: Name one person/place; ask the Spirit’s anointing. / Neighborhood 15: take a 15-minute prayer walk; through your community and or the area around Alhambra Beloved Community.

Prayer: “Spirit of the Lord, anoint us to love the broken as You do.”