Dear Christ Church,
Advent is here! During Advent we are full of eager expectation, waiting and preparing for the coming King. You will notice several changes that set this season apart, from the smell of incense to different vestments, and from new music to the lighting of the Advent candle to begin worship. As the liturgical colors change from green to purple, the color of royalty, we declare: “Come King Jesus. We watch and wait for you. We prepare our hearts for your coming. Open our eyes to your daily presence. Establish your shalom upon the earth. Come quickly, we pray, and restore all things.”
Last Sunday, and in this letter, I shared that for the next several months we invite you to A Season of Shalom. During Advent we’ll be weaving in themes about creation, remembering that the whole cosmos, heaven and earth and every living thing, awaits the renewal of Jesus’ second advent. Our Advent sermon series, Becoming Tenders of the Garden, begins this weekend.
This Sunday, look for a white board outside the main entrance to the sanctuary, where you get to share with us any creature you’ve seen in the past week; you can give the common name or the latin name . . . we want to hear about each other’s attentive “sightings.” Christine and I went on a walk this week and a small Carolina Wren hopped from tree to tree ahead of us for half a block. My soul rested and smiled. Don’t know the name of creatures? This app will help you identify anything if you have a picture of it.
Lastly, the Ceili and Men’s Chili Cook-off, an annual highlight, is here (Dec. 4)! We’ll have live Celtic music and dancing, and an array of chili so good, it’ll set you free. Men of Christ Church, rise up and claim your inheritance (see sign up link below).
Peace,
Cliff+