This is the first week of Advent, which means that it’s a new Church Year, which means that it is time to announce our annual focus for the year!
If you’re new to University Lutheran’s annual focus, it is a theme that we keep in mind throughout the year. This year’s focus is the first one that the elders helped me craft. The 2021-22 Year C annual focus is: “Sprouting in the Spirit”. In this “Sprouting” year, we’re going to be thinking of growth – how we are planted together in order to receive the growth that is given to us by the Spirit. But the direction of that growth is also an important thing. 
As Christians, we are to grow into better images of who Jesus is. That’s why this year’s focus verse is all about Jesus’ growth. It comes from Luke 2:52, and is the last verse Luke records about Jesus as a boy before His public ministry begins. It reads “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” As we read about Jesus’ growth, we consider how we can grow in the same ways that He grew through the power of His Holy Spirit that He gave us.
Of course growth is always hard for us as humans, and it is impossible for us to grow into the image of Christ without His own help. Thankfully, God has promised that we will grow into images of Christ (I John 3) because of our baptisms into Him. We look forward to showing how Jesus makes growth not only possible for you this year, but even hopefully attractive to you as we continue to serve you with Word and Sacrament.
More information is coming out soon about how you can join us on this year-long journey to sprout in the Spirit’s power into images of who Christ is. This year we will grow, like Jesus did: in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.