1st Week of Advent, 2013

I'm wondering when and if I'll ever stop being surprised that the season of Advent has arrived; that the liturgical year is beginning again; that I have, once again, neglected to lay away a stash of candles that are either violet or Sarum blue.

Why should Advent ever come as a surprise?

Of all the church seasons of faith, I love Advent the most. I'm one of Those People who will absolutely not decorate a tree before Christmas Eve, play Christmas carols before Christmas, nor will I allow Magi to appear at the manger before Epiphany. Shopping? Fie! I want to be present to Advent, thankyouverymuch.

I love Advent's invitation to practice watchful waiting; to be quiet. I love Advent's invitation to embrace the mystery; to not know everything immediately. Generally speaking, knowing everything immediately is still too much of a time lag for me. And while I do not love contemplating what living as an unequivocal "yes" might look like, I appreciate the invitation to do so; mostly.

Love all this, look forward to all this, and am still surprised when this season arrives. Why? Probably because I'm stunned to remember all that I'm invited to do, no matter whether the Advent wreath's candles are violet or blue.

The Magi Arrive! (2013)

The Magi didn't expect the Holy Family 

to be so much larger than life. 

Quite the Epiphany!

And the trip was such a schlep, 

they decided to head home another way.

If you've been following the Schlep of the Magi for the past few years, this is always how it ends...except when it doesn't.

A Wordle for the 4th Sunday of Advent 2012

 The Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name

Luke 1:45-56

A Wordle for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2012

Gaudete!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart . . .

Zephaniah 3:14-18

Love, the Lord, is on the way...

A Wordle for the 2nd Sunday of Advent 2012

That your love may increase 

ever more and more . . .

Philippians 1:4-6; 8-11

A Wordle for the First Sunday of Advent 2012*

I will raise up a Righteous Branch

Jeremiah 33: 14-16

*H/T to Caroline Cerveny for the Wordle idea on A Cyberpilgrim's Blog

Getting in the Mood for Advent with Not Your Usual Advent Hymn

Hunkering down for this season 

of watching and waiting . . .

Classy Magi

In addition to baby gifts, 

the Magi decided to bring 

a little something for Mary and Joseph.

O Antiphons! O Yay!

Yet another year when I feel compelled to point out how I love the tradition of chanting or singing or reading and, hopefully, contemplating the O Antiphons. 


I think of them as a sacred countdown to Christmas Vigil. Visit The Virtual Abbey blog from December 17th through the 23rd to see some great artwork for each O.


December 17
O Sapientia (Wisdom)
Isaiah 11:2-3, 28:29

December 18
O Adonai (Lord)
Isaiah 11:4-5, 33:22

December 19
O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
Isaiah 11:1, 10

December 20
O Clavis David (Key of David)
Isaiah 9:6, 22:22

December 21
O Oriens (Rising Sun)
Isaiah 9:1

December 22
O Rex Gentium (King of All Nations)
Isaiah 2:4, 9:5, 28:16

December 23
O Emmanuel (God With Us)
Isaiah 7:14, 8:8

3rd Sunday in Advent (2011): Gaudete!

Gaudete!

Couldn't choose, so posting both. Can't have too much gaudete, right? Right!

Schlep of the Magi Begins Again (2011)

The Magi begin their journey

by lining up votes for gift options.

Already, someone is not Winning.

1st Week of Advent 2011

At long last, it's Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. For the first week of what I consider the most wonderful time of the year, I plan to treasure all things and ponder in my heart :

• Being (more) quiet.
• Embracing (more) mystery.
• Remaining (more) open to grace.

You're invited to keep me company.

1st Sunday in Advent (2011)

Psst . . . Miriam . . .

Prepared for Advent?

Haven't seen my Magi since before my wedding on November 5. I'm verklempt about finding Sarum blue candles for my advent wreath at this late date.

Autumnal decor must be loaded back into their bins and Advent decor brought out. (Of course I have Advent-specific decor and Advent-specific music and Advent-specific books!) I'm coming down the homestretch of writing a book and just agreed to a December 9 deadline for three chapters of the next. These are, by the way, all very high class problems and I'm grateful to have them.

I was making myself crazy(er) by thinking about how totally unprepared I am for Advent until I had this mini-revelation: Advent is all about preparation...watchful waiting...being open to wondrous mystery which cannot be planned in advance.

This is me, smacking the heel of my hand upside my own forehead. Turns out I really am prepared for Advent. Superbly prepared. How about you?

#OccupyAdvent

Occupy Advent? What the...?

Many wonderful insights and ideas emerge during Tuesday night's church social media (#ChSocM) chat on Twitter. #OccupyAdvent is one of them, created in real time by Lutheran pastor, Rev. David Hansen (@Rev_David) during our hour-long chat on October 25. 

Simply put, #OccupyAdvent emerged during a conversation about restoring the sacred to Advent and using social media to help make that happen. You can learn a bit more about that here. 

I, of course, am thrilled by this development. 

Advent, which begins on November 27, is my favorite liturgical season and #OccupyAdvent efforts have already shifted my energy. This Advent, instead of ranting about how it's not just pre-Christmas, I'm going to focus on what it is: a season of "yes," of joyful anticipation, of watchful waiting, of preparing heart and home.

Here are a visible practical ways you can join with others to make a stand for slowing down and simplifying during this sacred season:

On Facebook: Like Occupy Advent
On Twitter: Follow @OccupyAdvent and add #OccupyAdvent to content and conversation about sacred watching and waiting for the Lord. On Facebook and Twitter: Add the #OccupyAdvent twibbon to your avatar by clicking here.

As for me and my house, we will continue to serve the season by following the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem. I have no idea where they'll wander. Last I saw them, they were checking out the wedding venue.

I'm also considering a brief hiatus from active blogging so I can focus on writing of the book persuasion. Still chatting with the Almighty about that!

About Those Magi

So what if it's August?

Either the Magi are very early this year,

or running very late.

The Magi Arrive! (2011)

The Magi didn't expect the Holy Family to be
so much larger than life. Quite the Epiphany!
And the trip was such a schlep,
they decided to head home another way.

Magi Getting Closer

The Magi felt quite welcomed. . .

at the wrong manger.

Approaching the 4th Sunday of Advent . . .

Two Magi

listened to the Holy Spirit.

One, sidetracked by a caterpillar,*

swiftly experienced consequences.

*For those who need help with this literary reference, click here. And yes, this will be on the Final.

O! It's the O Antiphon Time of the Year!!

I have absolutely no idea why I have this thing for the O Antiphons, but I start getting seriously giddy about Christmas when December 17th rolls around.*

If you visit The Virtual Abbey blog from December 17th through the 23rd, you'll find more evidence of my passion for this O-so-lovely tradition.


December 17
O Sapientia (Wisdom)
Isaiah 11:2-3, 28:29

December 18
O Adonai (Lord)
Isaiah 11:4-5, 33:22

December 19
O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
Isaiah 11:1, 10




December 20
O Clavis David (Key of David)
Isaiah 9:6, 22:22

December 21
O Oriens (Rising Sun)
Isaiah 9:1

December 22
O Rex Gentium (King of All Nations)
Isaiah 2:4, 9:5, 28:16

December 23
O Emmanuel (God With Us)
Isaiah 7:14, 8:8

*Truth to tell, this is a relatively recent development. Advent and Christmas were near total bummers until the turn of this century. You can count on me having more to say/write about that.