December 18, 2024

Advent, Blue Christmas, and Christmastide
This coming Sunday is the final Sunday of Advent. It is a season of anticipation, watchful anticipation, and preparation.

One of my favorite prayers goes like this: for what was, for what is, and for what will be, give thanks to God.

I wonder if in the rush of getting to Christmas, if we give ourselves even just a moment in the Advent 4-week window to watchfully anticipate and prepare? It seems a good window to reflect on what it means to give God thanks for what was, what is, and what will be.

That is not easy. In this time as we move toward celebrating Jesus’ birth, of God’s self come to dwell among us, the days shorten. And anxieties can be heightened; sadness can creep in. It can be hard to give God thanks for these things, these kinds of challenges.

We are not giving thanks to God as if the struggles in our life are wishes that were granted. We are giving thanks for God’s presence with us in all things – in our greatest joys, our deepest sorrows, and our many fears.

We are beloved. And our day-to-day living is fashioned with emotional complexity. It is possible to feel great joy and sorrow all at once. Nostalgia for what was a grief for that is, and vice versa. Perhaps there are family members we no longer talk to. Or dear ones who have died. Maybe beloved traditions are fading and new ones haven’t started.

We sterilize Jesus’ birth in our retelling of it. Hopefully,y we know we are doing that. If we take a beat and put ourselves there, in that amazing moment when God took God’s first human breath and the earth cried out in joy, we would know the true depth of emotional complexity. Great joy and sorrow might have been what Mary and Joesph knew. Their life together began in no way as they intended. They bore a child in circumstances they would never have asked for.

And yet, it was, is, and always will be a holy night.

You are invited to participate fully in the complexity of this season. We had a beautiful and joy-filled service and pageant last Sunday. This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of Advent and it follows the longest night of the year, the winter solstice. In addition to the 10 am service, we are offering a special, meditative evening service – Blue Christmas – at 7pm. This is when we get to gather and give thanks for what was, what is, and what will be and to know God’s presence.

For whatever this season brings forth for you this year, may you know the love of God present to you in all things.