A Word from the Fold
December 2023 edition of the Shepherd's Staff
“God created human beings, nothuman doings!” I’m not sure where this phrase first originated, but a priest friend of mine is fond of saying it. For me, it’s a great reminder of who I am as we head into the season of Advent.
I love Advent. — At least, I love what it is supposed to be like in an ideal world: a time of simplicity and quiet. A time of hopeful, peaceful waiting. A time of stillness and rest as we linger in the pregnant darkness anticipating the birth of the Savior who will bring peace and hope to our weary world.
Yet, the reality of my own life... as a priest, a mother of three teenagers, a spouse, a daughter of aging parents... means Advent is often far from simple and quiet. And the burdens of the world right now, the violence erupting in the Holy Land, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the floods in Somalia, unrest in our own country, the not-yet-over impact of COVID, the looming election in a bitterly divided country... none of this makes for an easy inner peace!
I know from my pastoral care for you that many in our parish are hurting. Some are facing the first holiday season after the death of a loved one. Others are making the transition to a new home. Some are facing layoffs and work transitions. There are frightening health diagnoses among us, and mental health challenges to address. And there is the pressure to Do All The Things to be ready for Christmas.
Advent is often seen as the counterbalance for a busy December. — A reminder to simply be, rather than do. A time to light candles and breathe deeply. To read a bit more of Scripture and say an extra prayer. To go on retreat, perhaps, or attend an Advent study group so that we can focus on God, and the coming of Christ, rather than on our own burdens. The irony, of course, is that observing a holy Advent often means adding more to our schedules rather than doing less.
We want to provide a corrective to that at Good Shepherd this year. So instead of a weekly Advent program after church, or a series of evening gatherings, or a retreat day to squeeze into a jam-packed month, we invite you to experience the fullness of Advent through our regular Sunday morning worship. Each of the four Sundays of Advent will offer a different way to engage with God’s Word and an opportunity to observe a holy and meditative Advent. We’ll have Eucharist, of course, but instead of a sermon, we’ll connect with God through healing prayer on 1 Advent, through visual images and meditation on 2 Advent, through breath and non-verbal prayer on 3 Advent, and through voice and music on 4 Advent. Our hope is that for these four Sundays, as we step aside from the secular pre-Christmas chaos and offer our burdens to God, we might make room in our hearts for the hope that Advent awakens.
Ellen, Ken, and I look forward to worshiping with you this Advent. Come, Lord Jesus!
+Rev. Ellie