This was the highlight of my Advent this year. The songs accompanied by readings told of the old and new testament prophets who "heard the call". A stirring compilation of contemporary preparation songs. It seemed to bring a lot of joy to those who attended. One woman who recently lost her adult daughter said it was something she really needed.
Yes, I agree with Jane. Advent is a time of joy. We should relish the anticipation even if it is stressful at times.
Agreed.
Sounds wonderful.
Our choir is not too bad, the solo singer is great, but the songs aren't the best choice.
This year the choirs at my church put on an Advent Cantata. I admit I had no idea what this was until I was handed the music about two months ago. Three of the choirs would participate. This would include our choiristers ages 8-12, Youth ensemble (teens), and the contemporary choir I belong to plus a group of "dancers" (young children). Now mind you all three of these choirs rehearsed seperately until the day before the performance. The "dress" rehearsal was a shambles. I kept thinking omg this is not going to be pretty. Dancers seemed to not have a clue. Teens had only gotten their solos the week before. The choiristers were totally distracted by the lights and the risers. The adults still didn't have their accompanying parts down. It was dizzying to say the least. But, through it all our composed choir director (pianist) and the quitarist seemed strangely calm. The day leading up to the performance I nervously practiced my solo. I decided, at least, I would have it together if the rest of it didn't work out. I imagined the worst. That evening everyone was there dressed and ready. We walked out took our places and it began. And, it went surprisingly well. Our 1st Cantanta was a success. A little rough around the edges but now we know what will work better next year.
This was the highlight of my Advent this year. The songs accompanied by readings told of the old and new testament prophets who "heard the call". A stirring compilation of contemporary preparation songs. It seemed to bring a lot of joy to those who attended. One woman who recently lost her adult daughter said it was something she really needed.
Yes, I agree with Jane. Advent is a time of joy. We should relish the anticipation even if it is stressful at times.
"I yam what I yam and I yam what I yam that I yam / And I got a lotta muscle and I only gots one eye / And I'll never hurt nobodys and I'll never tell a lie / Top to me bottom and me bottom to me top / That's the way it is 'til the day that I drop, what am I? / I yam what I yam."
I must admit, that I have never "done" much for Advent. It never occurred to me to "give up" something for Advent, as Gilg does.
During the years of raising three sons, somehow the busyness always overwhelmed everything else. I was always dead tired, racing to keep up, trying to keep the boys' anticipation level and excitement manageable. Since Hannukah normally precedes Christmas, our boys had to learn extra patience for the gift-giving aspects when they were in public school, hearing about their friends' celebrations and gifts for eight whole days, before Christmas ever arrived for them. Being Christian in a predominantly Jewish community and school when they were young gave them a perspective that even I didn't understand until a couple of comments opened my eyes. For example, I rented a Christmas movie for one of my sons to watch when he was in half-day kindergarten. He was watching it (yes, I WAS using the video as a "babysitter" so I could get some things done!) and the story was set a New England village, involved a hardship and then joy, and ended with the entire town gathered around the village green, beautiful decorated tree in the middle, singing Christmas carols. As the camera panned away at the end, from above, my son exclaimed "Oh, mommy, look at all those Christians"! It hit me then that my kids experienced life from the persepctive of a religious minority (not a bad lesson at all) because so few of our neighbors and their classmates celebrated Christmas. In nursery school they had learned secular Christmas songs (jingle bells etc) right along with "Oh Hannukah", and the Dreidel song.
We adopted the custom of celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas on Dec 6, with one gift - something that would "hold" them for a while. Usually it was a new book - one that was about something to do with Christmas (St. Francis "inventing" the creche etc) and always a book that was beautifully illustrated. Each son now has a nice collection of Christmas books, among their boxes of favorite childhood books. Someday, perhaps, they will read them to their own children, as they approach Christmas.
We had a few family customs - the candle lights go into the windows the first Sunday (but this year, my pumpkin and autumn leaves wreath are still up as I write this - and the boxes with the lights are still stored), we had an advent wreath with candles which we lit every night when we said grace, and an advent calendar, which the kids loved. Since they've been gone, Christmas tends to sneak up on us before we're aware of it. We had our holiday staff party today, once again reminding me that the season is upon us. I never had any regular spiritual practices for myself - just praying that we would all survive with love and good cheer and thanksgiving.
I tend to be more spiritual than religious, and I do love spiritual writers. Merton is a favorite, and I share Sandy's admiration of Henri Nouwen also, along with several others, especially Anthony DeMello and Eknath Easwaren and, recently some of Joan Chittister's meditations. For me, reading from the spiritual writers, and finding some silence for prayer, often helped me get through the Christmas season with at least a modicum of grace to help me keep in mind what it is all about, and embrace the joy of the season rather than succumb to the stress and exhaustion.
So, now I guess I'll go find the Christmas boxes....
"Advent is a time of the presence and the expectation in the eternal," he stated. "Exactly for this reason, it is... the time of joy, an internalized joy, that no suffering can negate. Joy because God is made child."
Regardless of what you think of his homily, what does Advent mean to you and how do you observe it?
Merope,
It basically means the preparation and not getting caught up in the shopping, and I observe it by giving up chocolate, that may seem a small matter but giving it up keeps me on my toes, everytime I crave I remember why I gave it up. But giving up my favorite sweet does not make the season any less joyous, I actually think it enhances it.
An Advent Reflection from the late spiritual author, Henri JM Nouwen, still very relevant today,
An excerpt from iGracias! by Henri J.M. Nouwen
"A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him . . ." (Isa.11:1-2).
These words from last night's liturgy have stayed with me during the day. Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness.
I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God's saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world. Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the "shoot that shall sprout from the stump."
When I have no eyes for the small signs of God's presence - the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends - I will always remain tempted to despair.
The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown young man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, he asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises. But the promise is hidden in the shoot that sprouts from the stump, a shoot that hardly anyone notices.
I know you have suffered one of the most impossible losses in life and I haven't walked in your shoes.
But Heaven knows I don't need a spiritual writer to tell me about the joy of the coming of Christ. Truth is I tend to avoid spiritual writers. I love Thomas Merton but he is experential.
I revere quiet time and always have. I never put on the radio or tv for company. I had to give my beloved little fur-ball of a dog to my daughter and I still miss watching Golden Girls late at nite with him, so that I tune in. When their music came on fluff-ball knew it was bedtime and he curled up on my comforter.
I truly hope you find Joy, which the message of Christ is to me. How many times did He say: be at peace, do not be afraid.
An Advent Reflection from the late spiritual author, Henri JM Nouwen, still very relevant today,
An excerpt from iGracias! by Henri J.M. Nouwen
"A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him . . ." (Isa.11:1-2).
These words from last night's liturgy have stayed with me during the day. Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness.
I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God's saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world. Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the "shoot that shall sprout from the stump."
When I have no eyes for the small signs of God's presence - the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends - I will always remain tempted to despair.
The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown young man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, he asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises. But the promise is hidden in the shoot that sprouts from the stump, a shoot that hardly anyone notices.
I've long seen Advent is preparation for the coming of Christ. I, personally, would have the priests wear a non-penitential color--perhaps rose not on just Gaudete Sunday. I see it as a period of joy. I don't think it is a penitential season whatsoever. Should we be sad that Christ is coming?
I know I'm often of a difference of opinion here, but I prefer the joy in Faith.
Much of this goes back to what the mission of Christ was as we perceive it. I believe He came to lead us to the Father and to begin or continue the establishment of the Kingdom here on earth.
I don't for a minute He came to do expiation. His death was a result of how He chose to carry out His mission to lead us to the Father.
So often we forget we are a Trinitarian Church: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we forget this we become very Proddy.
