“Light and Hope. Hold onto them against the darkness.” Diana Butler Bass
I love a stormy morning when I can snuggle in with my candles and tea and watch the first season’s snow swirling outside my window. There’s a stillness that brings solace to my soul. The trees are heavily laden with the white stuff as they join me in welcoming in the new season of Advent in the church. As writer Kate Bowler says there’s no champagne popping or resolution making but this is a Happy New Year for our church. Happy New year Trinity! A new liturgical calendar begins- Cycle A.
Advent is a season of Holy expectation – four weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s a time when we pause, listen, and make room in our lives for Christ to come to us again- to be born anew in our hearts. In a season filled with noise, busyness and worry – Advent invites us to slow down, to breathe and to prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem so very long ago. But, it’s more than that. The Spirit of Love in this human child remains fully alive. Advent reminds us to reawaken our awareness of this mystical presence and to welcome Christ in those who show up in our everyday lives. In her Advent book Night Visions, Jan Richardson writes “those who welcomed Jesus- the angels, the shepherds, the Magi, greeted him joyfully with their songs, their presence, their gifts.”
However, we have a more difficult time welcoming Christ into our midst, especially when he arrives in the guise of one who seems radically different from us or gets under our skin or who angers us or who confronts us with parts of ourselves we don’t want to see. The story of Jesus’ birth is more than one of nostalgia. It’s about the here and now. Today. How we choose to show up in the world. It’s a radical, life changing story when we realize that WE are to give birth to his Spirit. Mark Nepo says “what we call God is the life-force born and breathing in each of us.”
The celebration of Jesus’ birth is meant to remind each and everyone of us of the dignity and divinity of humanity. More importantly, it’s a call for us to bring hope and light to the darkness that surrounds us and peace to the people with whom we interact and embrace. In the words of a 17th century priest Angelus Silesius “if Christ were born a thousand times in Galilee it would be in vain until he were born in thee, in me.”
So, now let us ready ourselves for our journey to Bethlehem once again. Let us light our candles of promise- candles of hope, peace, joy and love. And let us open wide the manger of our hearts to allow the Spirit of that Christ child, the Spirit of Love, to be born anew “in thee, in me.”
Trinity has a list of special services to accompany us on this spiritual journey- see What’s new on the home page.
I would also like you to note a service designed for those for whom this is not the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a service to explore and validate all your emotional feelings, especially ones of grieving and loss. Loss takes many forms- not only the death of a loved one but the loss of a dream, a job, a relationship, a way of life, disappointment, loss of good health. This Comfort and Hope service is Thursday December 18th at 7 pm here at Trinity United Church. Please pass this along to anybody you know who could benefit from a word of encouragement and hope in their time of sadness.
If you are needing extra help over this Advent and Christmas season Guardian Care Solutions may be just the gift you’re looking for. This healthcare staffing company was started by a member here at Trinity- John Bosco Tumukunde Ampaire. That’s a mouthful! John is working tirelessly to make his way in a new world and finding ways to help others too. If you need a PSW or a RN or RPN or simply someone to help out with the daily chores of everyday living- contact John at 437-663-7947. Or email Admin@guardiancaresolutions.ca. You can visit John at his website www.guardiancaresolutions.ca This service is available outside the Huntsville area- anywhere in Ontario. John is a member of the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce and his business is licensed, insured, WSIB covered and fully certified.
Coming up in the life and faith of Trinity this week: December 1st– 7th
Wednesday morning 9 am- Men of Trinity
Wednesday afternoon 1-3 Knitting Group
Thursday morning 10 Christmas Mug up with the Minister- Games and Prizes too- Ho Ho Ho!
Fundscrip orders due next week! Great for those hard to buy people on your Christmas list.
Finally, a sleigh full of gratitude to all our Christmas Elves who have decked out halls- both inside and out- with the boughs and lights of festive holly!
What a delightful way to welcome people “home” for the Christmas season. Thank you!
Well, it’s time to warm up my tea… maybe even dig out my winter boots and take a stroll in this winter wonderland that lies before me.
Advent Blessings,
Companions on this spiritual path,
Rev. D