This Advent season, rehearse the ancient biblical story of saying “No” to Empire and “Yes” to God’s vision of a future far better than any human could bring about.

Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.

Who are you deciding to journey with or on behalf of during this liturgical season of Advent? How will your candles of hope, peace, joy, and love help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the ones without shelter, and heal the brokenhearted?

Palestinian Christians, whose ancestral families bore witness to the birth of Christianity and whose generations have been tending to the ancient holy sites of our faith, invite the global church to participate in the work of incarnation, embodying together, as God’s church, the divine work of sharing love and bringing liberation – for the Palestinian people and all people.

Transitions remind us that while roles and responsibilities change, the work of the gospel continues. New voices emerge, new stories are told, and the Spirit moves among us in surprising ways.