Advent is a season of anticipation—a time when we prepare our hearts for the arrival of Christ, the light of the world. Yet, for many pastors, this sacred season can feel more like an endurance race than a time of joyful waiting. Between sermon series, special services, and meeting the needs of their congregations, pastors often bear an immense weight during this season of hope.
As parishioners, it’s easy to get caught up in personal preferences: “I don’t like those decorations,” or “Why are we singing that version of _______ (insert your least favorite carol)” or “Can I my child be Mary in the pageant, this year? She’s been a shepherdess for three years in a row.” But, no, Advent isn’t about any of this. It’s about something much deeper.
It’s About Making Room at the Inn
The heart of the Advent story reminds us of the absence of space. Mary and Joseph, carrying the promise of Emmanuel, were met with closed doors and crowded inns. This moment challenges us to ask: Are we making room for the weary and overburdened among us—especially for those called to shepherd us?
And, let’s be honest: perhaps at Aslan Housing Foundation we are a little obsessed with pastors and making room. After all, we are devoted to providing pastoral housing solutions because we’ve seen firsthand how housing insecurity impacts ministry leaders and their families. But in this Advent season, let’s pause and consider a surprising question: Was Jesus the first pastor who was housing insecure?
Jesus: The Housing-Insecure Pastor
Jesus entered the world without a stable home, born in a borrowed space. During His ministry, He confessed, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). Christ, the ultimate shepherd of our souls, experienced homelessness. His journey, from Bethlehem to Nazareth to Calvary, was one of profound vulnerability and reliance on the hospitality of others.
This truth reframes our understanding of both the Advent story and the pastors who lead us today. Jesus empathizes with their burdens. He understands the exhaustion of having no place to rest, the constant giving, and the rejection that can come even when offering hope and truth.
How We Can Support Pastors This Advent
- Pray Without Ceasing
Pastors need prayer as much as they offer it. Pray for their spiritual and emotional strength, for wisdom as they navigate this season, and for their families who often share the weight of ministry. - Speak Life
A simple word of encouragement can be a balm to a tired soul. Thank them for their faithfulness, their long hours, and their care. - Serve Alongside Them
Offer to help with the work of the season, whether that’s volunteering at events, assisting with hospitality, or simply showing up when extra hands are needed. Specifically: attend one Christmas service and volunteer at the other one. - Celebrate Them
Consider organizing a small gesture of gratitude—whether it’s a handwritten card, a meal for their family, or an intentional moment during a service to acknowledge their labor.
Prepare for Who May Walk Through the Door
Advent also calls us to look outward, making space for those who may enter our sanctuaries for the first time. The person sitting alone in the back row may be seeking hope. The single parent dropping their child at the nativity pageant may be searching for community. Pastors often carry the responsibility of welcoming these seekers, but they can’t do it alone.
Making Space Together
As we prepare for the birth of Christ, let us also prepare to be the hands and feet of Jesus—to offer kindness, welcome, and room at the table for all. Let us honor the story of Mary and Joseph by filling our hearts and homes with love for those who serve and those who seek.
This Advent, let us remember the housing-insecure Savior we celebrate and recommit to creating space—not just for pastors but for all who walk through the door. May we be a people who keep the light of the inn burning brightly, always ready to welcome the weary, the searching, and the divine.