Nora places the star on the stable, telling again the Christmas story. The star is a symbol of the true Light that has come.
In the church year are found Cycles of Light , Cycles of Life and Cycles of Love:
Today, the celebration of Christmas with family in the kitchen and around the table with festive celebrating has changed – slowing, stopping , savoring. Standing still in the Light..
The first step to peace is to stand still in the Light….
sit in dark stillness
light one candle
quickening as flame swells
Veni, veni, Emanuel
hold a little one high to see
starlights and manger scenes
join her awe and wonder
take joy in her ohs and ahs
sing Silent NIght for a lullaby
greet the leapings of your weary heart
welcome stinging tears
images of all Christmases past
while wrapping yourself in present gifts
attend to the stirrings of God.
Advent Credo
It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;
It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.
It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.
It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.
It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.
It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.
So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.
From Walking on Thorns, by Allan Boesak, Eerdmans, 2004.
This week I wanted to spend time listening to Christmas music, wrapping Christmas gifts and baking Cranberry bread. I did these things, but along with so many others , I struggled, shattered by news of more violence against innocent people , heartbreaking photos of grief-stricken families, terrified refugees, and the darkness of human hearts without hope and faith and love.
I have this pottery jar on my kitchen window sill. It has been shaped and fired and given as a gift of love. In deeper, mysterious ways, Advent is expressed hope, shaped and fired and given. In the darkest of times, this hope remains.
To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.
Gilbert K. Chesterton
Photo by Pert Garraway Night Blooming Cereus
My friend sent me cuttings of her night blooming Cereus plants. She is a good gardener, and as her photo displays, she is an excellent photographer. But she would not be able to share this picture if she were not also willing to sacrifice some sleep (they only bloom at night) as well as patiently wait for the swelling buds to open. I removed my cuttings from their mailing envelope and put them into damp earth. But I, too, must wait as they begin to root and grow and bloom.
As I sit this morning, the first day of Advent, I think of this cycle and am reminded of another gift, the wonder of beginning again, of rooting and growing and waiting to experience the greatest mystery of all. .
Adult Advent Announcement
O Lord,
Let Advent begin again
In us,
Not merely in commercials;
For that first Christmas was not
Simply for children,
But for the
Wise and the strong.
It was
Crowded around that cradle,
With kings kneeling.
Speak to us
Who seek an adult seat this year.
Help us to realize,
As we fill stockings,
Christmas is mainly
For the old folks —
Bent backs
And tired eyes
Need relief and light
A little more.
No wonder
It was grown-ups
Who were the first
To notice
Such a star.
From If I Could Pray Again, by David Redding
Two days ago I traveled home to the Autumn woods of East Texas. There we celebrated the life and final home-going of my brother-in-law.
Color left the trees and bled into the sky as we turned south to head home.
City lights and sights say “welcome home.”
November morning light
glows through still green leaves
Autumn in South Texas
wilted leaf lifts
edged with diamond beads
mercy falling in drops
quenches thirst
Lichen growing on the gravestone of Opal and Howard Teal, Bullard, Texas
“…their wake reaches us, rocks us.” ~ Denise Levertov
When I visit the graves of my parents, I am not visiting them, I am remembering them, along with many other family members. In the Bullard, Texas cemetery are graves belonging to a number of aunts, uncles, maternal and paternal grandparents and even great grand parents. Lichen spreads and clings to the stones and reminds me of the spreading and clinging of their stories in my life. As the poet quoted above suggests, their “wake” reaches and rocks” me. I have been cradled in their love and faith. I remember. Without opening a single page of written family history, I thank God for lives lived, names that roll easily off my tongue.
Opal and HOward Teal
Veda and Woodrow Teal
Clyde and Ky Terrell
Ida and Tom Teal
Edna and Leo Warnick
Lela and Dewey Kirkpatrick
Wayne Kirkpatirick
Earnestine Matilde Curley
John Wesley and Elen Terrell
Vinnon Grady Terrell
Alice Stripling
plus many others whose names and stories I know even though I may not bring them to my mind at this moment, some who lived and died before I was born!
Alleluia!
For All the Saints (1864)
For all the saints who from their labor rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blessed,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine.
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia.
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
William How
shifting clouds darken
trickling tears
turn to pouring rain
garden bathed and blessed,’
grace received
Stones and Feathers 