Advent Song Tuning
If you’re not tempted by long winter naps
as the days shorten
and never sing the blues
there’s little need to keep reading this poem.
Certainly, the blues were present when
stepping out this calm
sunny afternoon to
stretch my peppy dapple blue dachshund.
Imagine our delight when one bird
engaged the two of us
by traversing the flight path
ahead and luring us into the woods.
With no leaves blocking the rays, awareness
set in of bright sun
streaming this Advent
heart-conditioning prophetic hymn.
For now, the blues are set aside and
I’m singing “All the World is
Waiting to see the Promised One”
preparing for Christ’s birth.
O may you be graced with simple gifts of
Christmas. A votive candle in a
paper sack lighting the way,
pretty songs sung in harmony
scrumptious Christmas cookies, fragrant pine trees.
Keep in mind that darkness is holy, too
and even if you sing the blues
today, insert a hopeful
gloria in response to God’s Love gift to you.
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Psalm 126
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
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It’s That Time of Year!
This is the time of year that heart-warming stories are pulled down from the attic, dusted off, and retold while accompanied by choirs and orchestras. Both the lyrics and tunes of Advent hymns cry out to ask our God to restore us to wholeness! It’s all I can do during worship services to hold back tears because the music moves me so. Surely I’m not the only one.
We all have stories to tell that remind us of Christmases past, people we are grateful for and those we miss tremendously. It helps to keep the stories alive through writing them down or sharing with our voices.
Are you one of those who feels an elevation of mood when giving to others? Fortunately, we have the tradition of providing many opportunities at Saint Paul to serve. Even though we will never meet the children and young people who receive the gifts we purchase from the angel tree tags, we offer Christmas blessings for the recipients.
Next Wednesday, our Blue Christmas service will be at 7 pm in the chapel. In this service there will be peaceful Taizé style music, anointing for healing, and Holy Communion. It may be just what we need to counter the effects of too much fa-la-la-la. Even when everything is an effort, we push forward because there is great reward when we do anything for God.
Dear ones, we pray for your spirit as we continue to prepare for the coming of Jesus.
Rev. Marta Wheeler