St. Mark's New Canaan

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

St. Mark's New Canaan

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.