Luke begins the story of Jesus with a simple time stamp: “In the time of Herod…” It sounds like a small detail, but it points to a world marked by oppression, economic hardship, and deep uncertainty—a fearful world not so different from our own. Yet in the midst of that fearful time, messengers keep showing up with the same surprising words: “Do not be afraid.” Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi all hear this message as they are drawn into God’s unfolding story. None of them become instantly fearless. They ask hard questions. They wrestle with doubt. They feel the weight of real danger. But with trembling courage, they keep moving. They choose to trust that God is at work—even when the powers of their day seem louder and stronger. This Advent at Wesley, we will follow their lead. Our series, What Do You Fear? – Insisting on Hope, takes seriously both the fear that runs through the Christmas story and the good news that meets it. Together we’ll name the fears that live in us and around us—personal anxieties, global crises, and the quiet worries we rarely speak aloud. We will not pretend those fears aren’t real. Instead, we will ask: What if fear doesn’t get the last word? What if, by naming our fears before God, we can see more clearly how God is breaking in with courage, justice, and joy? Each week—from Zechariah’s long waiting, to Mary and Joseph’s courage, to magi who refuse to give up—we will look for signs that hope is still possible. Our hope is not sentimental or fragile. It is gritty, resilient, and grounded in the conviction that Christ comes into real, fearful times like ours. This season, let us listen for the angels’ refrain, “Do not be afraid,” and learn together how to insist on hope.