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Tag Archives: Advent
Awaiting glory
The stars have turned cold awaiting their chance to shine shrouded in clouds watching the child swaddled in hope and fear crossing the desert braving the sea lullabied in a bomb shelter –a mother wearied by the wake father haunted by the absence of a ghost spirit sibling … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, poetry, prayer
Tagged Advent, Christmas, nativity, peace on earth
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The Word
Ten years later, with apologies to those still unconsoled, we wait still upon the Word to come; for good news to the victims of gun violence, peace on earth, and the goodwill to protect and celebrate every child of God. Amen: Come, Lord Jesus. Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, gun violence, poetry, prayer, Whom Shall I Fear?
Tagged Advent, anniversary, grief, Incarnation, John 1, Newtown CT, Sandy Hook, the word
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Advent (the second coming)
There is no cloud of glory can define, no gates of heaven can confine; there is no dogma, doggerel, or doctrine can describe, no earnest imitation reinscribe him. Christ’s coming cannot be constrained or restrained by our rituals of mortality.Our candles are dimmed, our illuminated manuscripts … Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, holy days, poetry, prayer
Tagged Advent, Christ, nativity, second coming
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Christmas is coming
“Christmas is coming” meant that somebody was running out of patience, out of breath like a woman in labour; like a baby in the birth canal, out of options to retreat; as though, if one didn’t pay attention to the tone of a mother’s exasperation, pregnant and impending, one day it would be too late. Continue reading
Advent snowfall
Snow: slowrelentless coveringsharp corners disguising thin ice with deep pilesuffocating beauty: eachfractal shrugging off the image of its neighbour endless variations ona theme devised before danger delivered into the world under the shadow of life
Dreamers
On the night before Jesus died, his closest friend denied three times that he even knew the man. In the nights before Jesus was born, Joseph dreamed. Would we be ready to stake our reputation on the acknowledgement that yes, Jesus is the Son of God; that yes, the way of the Cross, the way of self-giving, selfless, vengeance-denying love is the way to life, liberty, and the pursuit of heaven; that yes, Jesus, born of Mary, is God Incarnate, Emmanuel, God with us? Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, holy days, lectionary reflection, sermon, story
Tagged Advent, Incarnation, Joseph, Virgin birth
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Good news, you brood of vipers!
“If you have two coats, give one to someone who has been left out in the cold,” offers John. It is almost literally the least we could do. Continue reading
Posted in sermon
Tagged Advent, armistice, Jesus, John the Baptist, salvation, Silent Night
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TLK W GOD
It is our calling to cry out the goodness of God in Christ; not as a way of advertising our own services, but for the sake of the gospel itself, because we know that life is better with God, that we are comforted by the Sacraments of Christ, and the communion of saints. Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Advent, bumper sticker, Christmas, Eva ngelism, God, Jesus, Year C Advent 2
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Stand up for Advent
Do not become consumed by signs of turmoil. Stand up. Raise your heads. Give voice to the gospel. Expect God. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Advent, Bethlehem, climate change, gospel, gun violence, Holy Land, immigration, Luke 21:25-36, St Nicholas, Year C Advent 1
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When Advent meets Christmas
For Mary, Gabriel has opened a portal, a wormhole, an anomaly through which our history, this moment in which the blessed Incarnation is begun, is fused with eternity. Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Advent, annunciation, Christmas, Emmanuel, Incarnation
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