St. Mark's New Canaan

12.21.25 "Sanctuary, Not Shame" - The Reverend Elizabeth Garnsey

St. Mark's New Canaan

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0:00 | 13:36

The Fourth Sunday of Advent. 

What if God doesn’t come through perfection, but through protection? On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we encounter the often-overlooked courage of Joseph, a man who chose mercy over fear and sanctuary over shame. As Mary and Joseph face public judgment and social risk, we discover a God who enters the world not through moral policing, but through brave compassion. In a culture still addicted to shaming, Advent reminds us that Emmanuel means God is with us, offering shelter, not condemnation.