Lectio Poetica for the End of the Year

I heard this poem read on an old episode of Bob Chelmick's "The Road Home" on CKUA early this morning...and thought it right and true for a year-end reflection.  Blessings to all for the New Year...

WHAT IS HOLY

The white pages of a book

The many ways a hand can open
and close.

The brief darkness
of a plane in front of the sun,
lives suspended overhead.

The way plants eat light -
that is holy.

The endless voice of the ocean.

The streets of early morning
when lone lights shine from the windows
of the elderly.

The eyes of someone who has lost love.

It is in the breath, and gathers into
small sounds:
bread, home, yes.

When you bite into an apple and taste rain
That is.

- Rosemary Griebel, Calgary poet and librarian, from her book, Yes (QUARTET 2011)

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

- Isaiah 9: 6-7 (KJV)

*Photo credit: Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber via Rev. Amy Hamilton, Facebook post.

What Is Christmas All About?

That's what Christmas is all about.

(See Luke 2: 8-14)

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all

a 

Good Night!

Audio Divina for Advent IV

Singer-song-writer Sara Thomsen Asks the Musical Question...

Where Did Jesus Go?

Tell me where, where did Jesus go?
That brown-skinned man walkin’ the road to Jericho
Tell me where, where did Jesus go?
He’s up and been deported to Mexico, allelu

Tell me where, where is Jesus now?
That Middle-Eastern man who could feed a hungry crowd
Tell me where, where is Jesus now?
He’s on a list of terrorists and they tossed him out of town, allelu

Tell me where, oh if you know, do tell
That wise guy wasting time with the woman at the well
Tell me where, oh if you know, do tell
They say he’s queer and outta here and going straight to hell, allelu

With thanks to Parker J. Palmer and On Being. 

Lessons and Carols

Annual Service

of Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 18

10:00 a.m.

Followed by 

The Annual Parish

Christmas Dinner

Hosted by 

Our Anglican Church Women

All Welcome!

Something to Ponder...

Now that we're past the Third Sunday in Advent, we enter a period of time when we mark the Advent Ember Days -- Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week.*

Also during this time...as the calendar year is coming to a close and a new one beginning...it's an idea to prayerfully ponder our role(s) in our particular faith community...

Just sayin'!  ;-)

*Note: In the Common Lectionary and the Church of England, the Advent Ember Days are observed between the second and third Sundays in Advent, not the third and fourth.  :-)

Lectio Poetica: Poetry in Advent

A friend shared this poem on Facebook, read aloud by Michael Meade, and it struck me as something to contemplate in our waiting time, so I offer it here for your consideration:

The Way It Is

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among

things that change. But it doesn’t change.

People wonder about what you are pursuing.

You have to explain about the thread.

But it is hard for others to see.

While you hold it you can’t get lost.

Tragedies happen; people get hurt

or die; and you suffer and get old.

Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.

You don’t ever let go of the thread.

By William Stafford, from The Way It Is, 1998

Isn't Jesus is the thread we hold, the thread we follow, the thread of our lives that we must never let go?

Advent Quiet Day

Advent Quiet Day

Saturday, December 10, 2016

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Theme: "The Spirit of Giving"

Bring a bag lunch, a Journal 

in which to write your reflections, 

and a Bible.

To register, please call the church:

403-782-6310

All Welcome!