Theme for week 3 – Joy

1) Joy in God’s Presence

In El Greco’s portrait, the faces of the Holy Family radiate a quiet, interior peace.
What does Joy mean to you & how do you experience it?   How does the painting help us understand the Christian idea that joy is found not in circumstances but in God’s presence?

2 Joy and Vulnerability

The infant Jesus is portrayed with tenderness, held in the midst of a humble family.
How does the vulnerability of Christ invite us to look for joy in humility and simplicity rather than power or achievement?

3. Communal Joy

Each figure in the painting contributes to an atmosphere of shared love and devotion.
How do we experience joy differently when it is shared within a community or family of faith, rather than pursued individually?

If you would like a referral from Rev Lu or Rev Tabitha, please talk to them.

Theme for week 2 – Peace

Questions for reflections

1. Peace After Chaos — What Does God’s Promise Mean Today?

Simon de Myle’s painting shows the violent storm and desperate struggle around the ark. In Genesis, the flood ends with God’s covenant of peace symbolised by the rainbow.

Discussion question:

How does the contrast between chaos and the rainbow of promise help us understand the kind of peace God offers, not the absence of trouble, but hope and faithfulness in the midst of it?

2. Who or What Is Our Ark?

In the painting, Noah, his family, and the animals are sheltered within the ark while destruction surrounds them.

Discussion question:

In today’s world of conflict, anxiety, and uncertainty, what does “the ark” represent for us? Where do we find God’s peace and safety, personally, spiritually, or within our community?

3. Peace as a Calling, Not Just a Gift

Once the flood ends, Noah is sent out to rebuild, restore, and live differently in God’s renewed creation.

Discussion question:

How does the story, and Simon de Myle’s dramatic depiction, challenge us not just to receive God’s peace, but to become peacemakers in a fractured world? What practical steps can we take?

Art work and reflection questions for advent course December 2025

Theme for week 1 – Hope

Questions for reflection

1. Hope that Moves Us Beyond Fear

The patriarchs climb a sheer cliff face, trusting that the path — however dangerous — leads to a holy place.

Question:

How does hope empower us to step beyond fear in our own lives? Are there “cliffs” of faith, forgiveness, or commitment that God may be inviting us to climb?

2. Hope Rooted in a Bigger Story

For centuries, believers have made this journey, trusting in the faithfulness of God across generations.

Question:

How does remembering the faith and endurance of those who came before us — our “patriarchs” in faith — strengthen our own hope today?

3. Hope Shaped by Community and Trust

No one climbs to Abuna Yemata Guh alone. Climbers must trust one another and the guidance of those who know the way.

Question:

What does this image teach us about the role of community in sustaining hope? How can we support one another when the path feels steep or uncertain?