You can download a copy of our Christmas letter from the Attachments section at the bottom of this page. We have been waiting and longing for light, Watching for signs of the Lord. "Promised of ages," "Messiah to come," Hear us, we beg you: "Come, save!" Come, O Lord and set us free. Maranatha Come, O Lord, and Set Us Free. Tim Schoenbachler (Common Praise 113). The joy of Christmas is for those who hope for a better day and see Christ coming. The love of Christmas is for those who long for the peace that the Prince of Peace will bring. We begin these Advent weeks by lighting the candle of hope in our Advent wreath. Hope is more than a wish come true. It is the certain knowledge that Emmanuel, God with us, will come again, to bring good news to those who are oppressed, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to those in bondage, and to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1). Our ancestors in the faith clung to hope more urgently than food and water. When we get wrapped up in our own lives, we forget that God has a greater plan for humanity, that none of us should be in pain our need. In Advent, we hold before God our needs, and ask for God to dwell among us. God answers, but never as we expect. God answers our call with an infant child, born of a teenage mother. God promises to dwell not just among us, but in us. God says, "I want you to know my joy of healing this broken world." God incarnate, God in us, God using us to bring healing and justice. God of power and mercy, you call us once again to celebrate the coming of your Son. Remove those things which hinder love of you, that when he comes, he may find us waiting in awe and wonder for him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Collect, Advent 3 Blessings to you all, Rev. Dawn+ | Advent Resources and Reflections Thought for the Season: Reflections provided by the Rt. Rev. Sue Moxley, Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Online Advent Calendar: Featuring daily meditations from Episcopal Café, videotaped interviews with the young people of the Bokamoso Youth Program in Winterveldt, South Africa, and opportunities to support Bokamoso and the Diocese of Washington's other ministries in Southern Africa. A new window will be available each day during the month of December. View an introduction to Bokamoso. Advent Meditations in your inbox: Written by students, faculty and staff at South Dakota State University. To subscribe, send an email to mharewood@episcopalchurch.org with "join meditations" in the body. |
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