Dear Church,

Welcome to Advent.
 Advent is the first season in the Church year, and the first day of Advent (today) is the first day of our liturgical calendar. Our “new year’s day.”

“Advent” means arrival, or coming, and so during these days leading up to Christmas we are invited to prepare to celebrate Jesus’ past arrival in his incarnation, to watch for the way he presently comes among us through word and sacrament in the power of his Holy Spirit, and to wait for the day when he will come again in glory to make “all things new” (Rev. 21). This means that as Christians we do not begin our new year with a great big, “Go! Go! Go!” and a list of resolutions, but with a halting, “Stop and wait.” 

But, as we all know, waiting can be difficult. This time of year can sometimes leave us feeling burnt out, over-engaged, or just ready for the new year to come already. The earlier evenings and darker days can leave us restless and wanting for the light of Christmas and beyond. And the way we’ve trained ourselves to fill every gap of “dead time” by checking our phone or switching on a screen has re-wired our ability to wait well. Thus, what we need is not more activity to make us forget how tired we are. More tinsel to cover our bare spots. More things to do. What we need is some space to rest in the promises of the One who has come and will come again and to let our hearts wait on him.

Below are several resources that may be helpful for you in creating this space, alone or with others. The resources in the left column have already been shared with you in the December Bellringer. The resource in the right column, “Habits of Light For A World of Darkness,” offers four daily habits (including scripture and a brief devotion) to help form your days during Advent and into Christmastide. There is also a link to an advent playlist. (Again, the goal is not to do more, more, more, but to rest in the promise of Christ’s advent which means doing one of these practices will require letting something else go).

May God the Father,
who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son,
give you grace to prepare for life eternal.
May God the Son,
who comes to us as redeemer and judge,
reveal to you the path from darkness to light.
May God the Holy Spirit,
by whose working the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ,
help you bear the fruits of holiness.
Amen.

The Psalms
Read the psalms as prayers and you’ll begin to find yourself praying for yourself and others in completely new ways. You could easily pray the Psalms of Ascent [120-134] through Advent. These are ancient pilgrim prayers/songs for people as they would make their way up toward the temple in Jerusalem.