The Advent calendar reminds us that we can
experience a
world infused with peace, harmony and joy. The
Advent faith
always moves us to the future instead of locking us
into the
past. Therefore, we can expect surprises.
To experience the meaning of this Holy Season
requires
imagination, a sense of wonder and a willingness to
risk in
order to become partners with God in the New
Creation. The
days of Advent can be an opportunity for us not only
for
learning but for experiencing the joy of sharing in
the work
God is doing in the world.
from Waiting
with Expectation
by Brooks Ramsey
A Thought for Advent
In prayer, we open ourselves to respond to God’s
presence
and notice the light of God as it shines on the world,
exposing fault yet also promising hope.
—Dorothy Bass and Craig Dystra,
Christian educators
from The Days of Waiting
A Thought-a-Day
Advent Calendar
More than a Day
The holiday season has become for lots of people
more of an
obstacle than a celebration—something to be
endured and
survived.
The problem with that attitude is that it reveals
exactly how
mistaken we are about the nature of Christmas.
Properly
understood, Christmas is not just a day or even a
season of
the year—an event on the calendar that arrives and
passes.
No, Christmas is much more than that. It is
a
permanent change that enters into our world, “for
keeps,”
affecting every one of our attitudes, actions, and
relationships for the rest of our lives.
from Christmas
Beginnings
by The Rev. Bob Hansel
