Advent, a thread in the night

Somehow Advent is the indwelling of hope from carnage, the blooming of possibility from scorched earth. - E.M. Welcher

Praise for Advent: a thread in the night:

"Ours is a culture that contracts feeling to a small range of superficial and acceptable affections. So we spend much of our life shrunken, shriveled, less alive than we ought to be. The tragedy of that is we spend much of our lives unprepared for Advent. Unready for inbreaking of so much feeling of so many varieties. Evan Welcher guides us through darkness, through feelings we don’t name at dinner parties or even in counseling sessions. He opens us up to ourselves and in doing so opens us up to the glorious good news of Advent. We feel again. We feel a lot. We feel God’s presence. Be prepared to feel when you read this collection.

-Thabiti Anyabwile Pastor, Anacostia River Church (Washington, DC)

“Evan captures grief and hope in a beautiful tension as he allows us a glimpse into his story and a grand view of Christ’s.”

-Quina Aragon, author & spoken word artist

"The great human desire is to find purpose in the midst of suffering. The Christian story declares God breaks into our dark nights and suffers alongside of us - taking on flesh, blood, and tears. Welcher is our guide on his personal journey--chronicling death and grief-- while discovering afresh the hope of the Resurrection and the power of Advent. Read, weep, and, in the process, rediscover hope."

-Steve Bezner, pastor at Houston Northwest Church

"With the sanctuary lights darkened, Christian worshipers cling to their candles on Christmas Eve. In this moment, the sadness of how broken things are is caught up in the joy of what was and what will be. In Advent, a Thread in the Night, E.M. Welcher invites the reader to walk alongside him in a journey of grief, loss, and hope. Grounded in Scripture, each daily reflection is an opportunity to explore our own griefs as we await the joy of Resurrection."

-April Fiet, pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Scottsbluff