In a world awash with suffering, chaos, and injustice, Advent reminds us of the profound nearness of God. The incarnation is not a remote act of love, but one of costly solidarity. Jesus, the Word made flesh, entered our world to dwell among us, bringing hope, peace, joy, and love that are not distant but personal, not abstract but embodied. Join us this Advent as we explore what it means that God is truly with us, entering our lives, our struggles, and our world to transform them from within.
Journey with us
There are a few ways you can participate in Advent with us this year.
Sunday Liturgy
You are always welcome to join us for our Sunday liturgy, in person at Miner Elementary (601 15th St NE) or online at YouTube.com/christcitydc.
Each week in December, we’ll be exploring the Advent themes of hope (12/1), peace (12/8), joy (12/15), and love (12/22). December 15 will be our main Advent celebration, including a community lunch! (Sign up to bring something to the potluck!)
On Christmas Day, we’ll post a short homily on our YouTube channel.
Advent Devotionals
We’ll post weekly Advent reflections on our social media channels and here on our website.
We also have two groups going through daily Advent reflections based on:
Danté Stewart’s Prophesy Hope!, with Pastor Justin. Grounded in scripture and steeped in the rich legacy of the Black church and its prophetic imagination, this book invites readers to wrestle with the pain and beauty of our world while anticipating the transformative power of Christ’s coming.
Kate Bowler’s The Weary World Rejoices, with Elder Sarah Bell. Together we will explore the promises of truth, compassion, restoration, and justice as found in Jeremiah when the Lord declared, "The days are coming when I will fulfill the good promise." (This group is for women only.)
Both groups will follow a similar structure of personal reading as well as communal interactions via sharing reflections and encouragements on WhatsApp.
Advent Offering
Every year, we take up an offering to support causes and organizations beyond our church community. We have supported organizations both large and small, local and global, working in areas of international development, youth education and empowerment, creative arts with returning citizens, resources for immigrants and refugees, peacemaking and restorative justice.
This year, we seek to embody the same nearness demonstrated by the birth of Jesus—God with us—by supporting those who bring hope and healing to places of deep need.
The recipients of this year’s Advent Offering are:
Angel Scroggins Memorial Fund
Named in honor of a beloved member of Christ City Church, this fund helps young people in our community transition into adulthood—whether through college, trade school, or pursuing an entrepreneurial dream.
Since its inception in 2021, the fund has provided over $36,000 to support these transitions. This Advent, we continue to honor Angel’s legacy, equipping the next generation to pursue their God-given potential.
A Palestinian Christian peacemaking organization rooted in reconciliation and hope. On their farm in Bethlehem, surrounded by Israeli settlements and conflict, the Nassar family embodies the Beatitudes of Jesus. They bring together people divided by religion, politics, and geography to engage in the hard work of peace-making and understanding.
This Advent, we stand with Tent of Nations in their commitment to erode the structures that divide and to proclaim that another world is possible.
Missional Grants
This year we have an opportunity for Christ City members to bring hope and connection to their neighborhoods in Jesus’ name. Whether it’s hosting a block party, supporting a local sports team, providing supplies for a community garden, or helping with a neighborhood event, these grants are here to support creative ideas that work for the good of your communities.
If you have an idea—even a small one—that can show your neighbors God’s love and light in both the hard times and the everyday moments of life, we encourage you to apply. Let’s help each other bring God’s presence to the places where we live and serve.