Welcome to the 2023 Advent Devotional “A Weary World Rejoices!” 

This year our hopes for healing from epidemics, for relief from practices that harm our environment, for recovered common civility in society bent on polarization have not been realized. While we do not despair, we grow weary while waiting. 

The aim of this devotional is to renew our perspective that Jesus has come to Bethlehem, is coming to renew all things and is present through the Holy Spirit active within the Christian community and among all creation. 

We as members of the Fresno Pacific University and Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary community pray that you will experience God’s peace afresh during Advent 2023. 

Merry Christmas! 

Thanks to Lynn Jost, Ph.D., professor of preaching and Old Testament and director of the Center of Anabaptist Studies at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, for his work as editor of the 2023 Advent devotional.