Category Archives: poetry

Advent 2024: Gaudete Sunday

Advent Day 15, December 15, 2024 For those who incorporate an Advent wreath into their Advent traditions, today is the day to light the pink candle, the Joy Candle. Known by its Latin term, Gaudete Sunday, this third Joyful Sunday in Advent reminds us that we are almost “there,” that the waiting for the Christ-LightContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Gaudete Sunday”

Advent 2024: Notice

Advent Day 11, December 11, 2024 I am currently walking with a group through the book, The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Birth, by theologians Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. It definitely isn’t Christmas Hallmark movie reading. Yet in spite of its scholarly depths, the authors make some intriguing observationsContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Notice”

Advent 2024: Waiting with Birds

(Photo courtesy of (c) Turner Matthews, Decatur, Alabama, USA) Advent Day 10, December 10, 2024 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8 Some two thousand years ago, in a politicalContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Waiting with Birds”

Advent 2024: Look

St. Naum at Monastery of St. Naum, Macedonia, (c) T. Brett McMahan Advent Day 5, December 5, 2024 You Reading This, Be Ready ~ by William Stafford Starting here, what do you want to remember?How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?What scent of old wood hovers, what softenedsound from outside fills the air? Will youContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Look”

Advent 2024: Silence

Advent Day 4, December 4, 2024 Lo, in the silent nightA child to God is bornAnd all is brought againThat ere was lost or lorn. Could but thy soul, O man,Become a silent night!God would be born in theeAnd set all things aright. Whoever wrote this 15th century verse knew a truth about the giftContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Silence”

The Waiting: A Poem of Advent

Advent Day 2: December 2, 2024 The Waiting ~ A Poem of Advent “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear.  I will help you.'”  (Isaiah 41:13) O, Isaiah, ancient prophet of doom, prophet of ancient hope,your proclamations resound like cymbalsjarring this stillContinueContinue reading “The Waiting: A Poem of Advent”

Advent 2024: Waiting as One

December 1, 2024 Welcome, any and all, to this season of Advent, the four-week period of waiting for the Light to be born. Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, a believer of anything or of nothing, you are welcome here. We’re all alive, breathing as one, at this same moment, on this same planet, our common aches,ContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Waiting as One”