Advent

Advent is really one of my favorite times of year.

The sun goes down earlier and comes up later. Here in Minnesota snow comes down and hushes sound, with the cold keeping people huddled together for warmth.

It’s also a time of year when we anticipate the birth of Jesus — paradoxically, in Christian teaching at least, the Lord of all the universe born into the flesh of an infant, that most vulnerable of human beings, and further, born to a dark-skinned teenager living in poverty, soon to be a refugee. None of these labels speak of power, and yet Advent is a time of anticipation of a power so great, so overwhelming, that it transforms all. The power of love incarnate.

Here are some resources we use as a family:

• our favorite Christmas cookie recipes
• our set of Christmas carol lyrics you can use on your phone or tablet (click on the name or number to find one)
• a revised version of the lyrics to O come, o come Emmanuel written by the BC Catholic-Jewish dialogue (and here is an explanation of the revisions)
• our favorite liturgical year calendar (if you’ve ever come to our Joy Sunday party, you might remember receiving a small version to take with you), which is published with new illustrations every year
• there is also a companion to the calendar, which tells you more about each of the saints and other holy people noted on it
• preaching guidelines for Advent (just in case you’re interest in a quick look at the scriptures you often hear at this time of year)
• “Imagine Peace” - a free 84 page booklet of prayers, songs, and meditations shared by the World Council of Churches several years ago and more relevant than ever