Comments on: Anticipating Advent

By: Jan Richardson

Jan Richardson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:21:16 +0000

Many kind thanks, Rev. Christina! That delayed gratification/focused intention stuff can be such a challenge! I pray that you are finding moments of quiet and much to savor on your Advent journey. I wish you many blessings.

By: Jan Richardson

Jan Richardson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:18:27 +0000

Thanks for your words, Jackie! I’m so pleased for the blessings that have come your way this year. May the coming season and the year ahead be wondrous for you. Peace to you!

By: Jan Richardson

Jan Richardson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:17:17 +0000

Many thanks, Pollinatrix! I hope you are finding much to savor in this season and that peace will be a persistent companion for you and your family. I wish you many blessings in these days.

By: Jan Richardson

Jan Richardson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:14:53 +0000

Many thanks, Hannah! Yes—I understand what you mean about being a worship planner and how that shifts your relationship with seasons. I especially enjoyed your words about how you can stop being an employee and start being a pilgrim—an ongoing tension among folks in “professional” ministry. I pray that Advent is unfolding in a wondrous way for you and that you’re experiencing these days as a pilgrimage. Thank you for visiting and for your thoughtful words. Blessings and traveling mercies to you!

By: Rev Christina

Rev Christina — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:21:44 +0000

Advent challenges me. I’m not good at delayed gratification and find that waiting for Christmas takes focused intention. Otherwise I’m swept into the swirl of church and social activities, running rather than savoring the journey. So today I’m beginning with quiet time to set a slower pace which will hopefully quiet my spirit and deepen the journey to the manger.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:07:41 +0000

I am looking back on a very blessed year and I’m looking forward to the new friendships I will be making during the coming season.

By: The Pollinatrix

The Pollinatrix — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:54:50 +0000

I love that someone else is already anticipating Advent. It’s my favorite time of year.

I like your thought-provoking questions. I hope to enter Advent with a simple heart and a sense of wonder. What helps me stop and savor is dropping projections and expectations and paying attention in the moment. My hope is that I can look back on this season as a time of peace for my family and me.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:18:18 +0000

We finished planning all of the Advent music last week. In a way, I feel like I have already entered Advent…I think most worship planners will identify with the feeling of going through seasons before they are “happening.”

Arriving at Christmas, I want to feel joy and wonder. Again, as a worship planner, it is easy to feel simply relieved that it is all over.

Ironically, planning ahead (I’m more prepared that I have been any other year!) has both hastened Advent/Christmas, and given me the space to experience them on a spiritual rather than a material level. Without having to worry about worship plans for the next two months, I can stop being an employee and start being a pilgrim. Interesting how those two are often contradictory.