Pandemic. Used as an adjective, its definition is “widespread; general; affecting a whole people.”
During the past 20+ months, COVID-19 has had a pandemic effect. Endless news reports and data regarding COVID tests, infections, fatalities, and recoveries abound. Yet even amid a shared global experience, our sinful human nature still attempts to divide and conquer us. We focus on measurements and definitions regarding our differences—vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, conservative vs. progressive, caring vs. calloused. We do not claim and cling to the promises of our Savior spelled out in black and white within His Word. And all too easily, Satan, with his same playbook from the Garden of Eden, distracts our focus from God and the Truth and works to convince us it is really about being wise in the world—or ‘woke’—or that the biggest divide between us is singularly based on being Black or White.
COVID, however, is not the first pandemic. More than 2,000 years ago, a tiny baby came to earth to make a cosmic difference that would affect every single person ever to exist. While that Bethlehem stable may seem simpler and more tranquil than our setting today, our ancestors faced similar maladies: social class conflicts, governmental gaffes, and no shortage of beliefs regarding how desperate people could be saved. Yet the swaddled Savior came for everyone, and the clarity and certainty of His death and resurrection prove to be 100% effective, even today.
A pandemic Advent: the arrival of a Savior for all is a collection of individual meditations, composed by members of the Concordia University community on its Wisconsin and Michigan campuses. It is our prayer that you will approach this Advent season with newfound anticipation and enthusiasm through the Holy Spirit. That same anticipation and enthusiasm is embedded in the mission of Concordia University and is what drives the work of the university each and every day.
His is no earthly kingdom; it comes from heav’n above.
His rule is peace and freedom and justice, truth, and love.
So let your praise be sounding for kindness so abounding:
Hosanna to the Lord, for he fulfills God’s Word!
Prepare the Royal Highway (Frans Mikael Franzen)
Lutheran Service Book, #343
This project was completed only through the collaboration and contributions of many:
- Faculty, staff, and students of the university, as noted on the schedule below
- Rev. Dr. Dan Paavola and Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor, who reviewed each contribution
- Briena Jacob and Ashley Kilgas of the university marketing team
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14 (NRSV)
DR. MICHAEL UDEN, Vice Provost, Student Enrollment and Engagement
Schedule
Foreword | Kali Thiel, Director of University Communications, CUW
Nov. 28 | Isaiah 2:1–22, 1 Peter 1:13–25, Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson, Vice President of Administration, CUAA
Nov. 29 | Isaiah 5:1–25, 1 Peter 2:1–12, Dr. Diane Ames, School of Nursing
Nov. 30 | Isaiah 6:1–7:9, 1 Peter 2:13–25, Logan Davis, CUAA Student
Dec. 1 | Isaiah 7:10–8:8, 1 Peter 3:1–22, Mary Buenz, School of Education, CUW
Dec. 2 | Isaiah 8:9–9:7, 1 Peter 4:1–19, Joshua Schumacher, Head Football Coach, CUAA
Dec. 4 | Isaiah 10:12–27a, 33–34, 2 Peter 1:1–21, Dr. Michael Uden, Vice Provost
Dec. 5 | Isaiah 11:1–12:6, 2 Peter 2:1–22, Sandra Jahns, School of Arts and Sciences, CUW
Dec. 6 | Isaiah 14:1–23, 2 Peter 3:1–18, Mollie Hittinger, CUW Student
Dec. 7 | Isaiah 24:1–13, 1 John 1:1–2:14, Shanitra Cheff, Multicultural Engagement, CUAA
Dec. 9 | Isaiah 26:1–19, 1 John 3:1–24, Josh Kittleman, School of Education, CUAA
Dec. 10 | Isaiah 26:20–27:13, 1 John 4:1–21, Dr. Christopher Stark, School of Arts and Sciences, CUAA
Dec. 12 | Isaiah 29:1–14, Jude 1–25, Dr. Scott Van Ornum, School of Arts and Sciences, CUW
Dec. 13 | Isaiah 29:15–30:14, Revelation 1:1–20, Kate Robbins, Academic Advising, CUAA
Dec. 14 | Isaiah 30:15–26, Revelation 2:1–29, Dr. Tammy Ferry, Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Dec. 15 | Isaiah 30:27–31:9, Revelation 3:1–22, Earl Schumake, Academic Resource Center, CUAA
Dec. 16 | Isaiah 32:1–20, Revelation 4:1–11, Sarah Koenig, Head Acrobatics and Tumbling Coach, CUW
Dec. 17 | Isaiah 33:1–24, Revelation 5:1–14, Dierra Tyra, CUW Student
Dec. 18 | Isaiah 34:1–2, 8–35:10, Micah 1:1–7:20, Revelation 6:1-17, Dr. Uvi Castillo, School of Pharmacy, CUW
Dec. 19 | Isaiah 40:1–17, Revelation 7:1–17, Cathy Melan, Advancement, CUW
Dec. 20 | Isaiah 40:18–41:10, Revelation 8:1–13, Dr. Farah Kamw, School of Arts and Sciences, CUAA
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