It’s about time to order your Advent candles and choose your Advent spiritual practices.
I offer several suggestions for your consideration.
So … blessings upon you in this season of light!
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
– Luke 2:8-11, NRSV
Blessings and love to all on this Holy Eve.
I sit on the floor watching a sleeping child. Three months old, she is a miracle of breath, of tiny hands and feet and eyes and mouth.
How can hearts not be softened by the sight and sound and touch? Perhaps this intent was part of the divine gift. …
That a child would come into the mess of this world. That we who stopped to watch would be forever changed by the sight and touch and sounds of an infant babe.
Come, all you with hearts of stone. Come, all you with spirits of cynicism. Come and see this miracle of breath, of tiny hands and feet and eyes and mouth.
To us, this child is born.
Christmas Eve,
Holy night.
Memories creep into
My mind.
Smells of evergreen
And candles, lit.
The worn, waxed chancel
In a church sanctuary.
Organ, piano, flute, guitar …
Play into the quiet night.
Dad’s voice, leading
“O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
The smooth candle in my little hand
Hoping, waiting, for the flame
From the Christ Candle.
(Will I get to hold it this year?)
The darkened sanctuary,
Each lit candle
Adding to the brightness.
“Silent Night”
Sung by young and old,
Friend and stranger,
Joined together around the world
By hope that light will
Shine in the places of conflict,
Loneliness, despair.
Come, Holy Child.
Bring joy, love, hope, comfort, peace.
We await your birth.
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the God-head,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.
– Christina Rossetti, 1885
A lovely video from my friend Jon Woon and his sister, Joanna Woon L’ng Ern. So grateful for the beauty of music and video. Production by Yoozlr. Videographer: Dan Ho (dho.ca)
Here’s a bit of Scottie Christmas for you and yours ….
A Christmas Poem
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
There was barking and snuffling because of a mouse.
All I Want for Christmas
All I want for Christmas is a treat to eat,
a treat to eat, just a treat to eat.If I could only have just a treat to eat,
then I could wish you Merry Christmas.
The Friendly Beasts
Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus our brother, kind and good.“I,” said the Scottie, black and warm,
I snuggled their feet on Christmas morn;
They won’t hurt my baby who’s just born.”
“I,” said the Scottie, black and warm.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
With Love from Jack and Spec
All the Wonders 