Dear friends,
Last weekend, we celebrated the last Sunday of Ordinary Time with the Reign of Christ, which is the end of our liturgical calendar. This Sunday, November 30, is the first Sunday of Advent.
Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation of the coming of Jesus. It begins four Sundays before Christmas. How will you know we’ve reached the season of Advent? In church, paraments (decorative cloth covers, hanging, and clergy vestments) will be blue or purple, we’ll have the advent wreath with candles we light each week, and the church will be decorated with evergreens (PS – join us for the Greening of the Church the morning of Saturday, November 29).
In past years, we’ve shared commercially published Advent devotionals to support and daily guide us on the journey of Advent. This year as you already know, we have a special offering: an Advent devotional by and for the people of Trinity Church. Members of our community were provided a set of readings appointed for a specific day in Advent. They read, meditated, and prayed with the readings, then wrote a brief reflection on one or more of the readings. Each page includes space for your own notes, reflections, and prayers. You can use the devotional individually or discuss reflections with family and friends.
Let me close with a quote from the devotional: “No doubt, this can be a busy time of year. Our culture (and sometimes our church) tends to encourage us to busyness: cleaning, decorating, shopping, attending special seasonal events and services, cooking, baking, and eating. Please know that we offer this book of reflections as an invitation only, not as one more item on your to-do list. If you aren’t able to use it this year, or if you start but can’t finish, or if you use it in fits and starts, it’s OKAY. This is a no-guilt, no-shame invitation.”
May your journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus at Christmas bring you hope, peace, joy, and love.
Jolene Miller, on behalf of the Spiritual Formation Committee
PS – Curious to learn more about Advent? Check out Advent 101.