First Sunday of Advent

Our choir sang at 5:00 mass yesterday evening, so all of the family who were in town for "house work" went to that mass. Because of this I got out the Advent wreath and we lit the first candle last night at dinner. As a decoration, it looks a little forlorn in the middle of a kitchen where the bulletin board of pictures has been taken down, the cookbooks have been packed away -- because I'm not doing any cooking I can't do from memory until after the move -- and the walls are getting grubby because they're just going to be knocked down in a month or so anyway.

But as a symbol, I'm finding it movingly inspirational. We are moving forward, we are looking forward, and and when the time it symbolizes is fulfilled, something wonderful will have happened! As I was mulling over what I wanted to say in this post, I happened to think about Mary, who in the year we are commemorating was eight months pregnant* and about to set out on a long trip on donkey-back. I can picture me in that situation, having the same thoughts I'm having now: "I can't do this." "It's too hard." "It will never work out the way I want it to."

Since Mary was far more in tune with God's will than I'll ever be, I don't dare picture her giving in to the temptations inherent in these thoughts. She knew that she was living in/obeying the Father's perfect will, so despair or mental paralysis was not even an option. But I'm pretty sure there were mornings when the thought of heaving herself back onto that donkey required conscious submission and acceptance! So I'm going to strive to let the Advent wreath remind me to surrender my irritations and impatiences, so that I can eventually arrive at the joy of Christmas.

* Elisa and Christy, I'm thinking about you! [Two of Arwen's HS friends are expecting their first babies ANY DAY!]

Sewing and Singing -- Updated!

I have been doing a lot of sewing recently, most of it secret (because after all Christmas is coming!) and this evening I finished one major part of it. I also finished a Christmas project that wasn't a secret -- Matthew's Christmas stocking.

Back when Arwen was a baby a friend and I went to a crafts extravaganza sponsored by the local Home Extension Agency. It was not a "craft show", where crafters sell their wares, but a "you can do this!" showing, with about 50 different projects featured, and a handbook with how-to's and patterns included in the price of admission. I discovered one for a sewn fabric stocking with a counted-cross-stitch band for the name. Since Roger and Arwen had no stockings, and mine was totally dilapidated, I made three.

That was 26 years ago, and since then I've made five more for children (oops, six -- we lost one somewhere), two for sons-in-law, four for assorted relatives and friends, two for Daniel and Camilla, and now one for Matthew. And I already have the one for Arwen's new baby cut out; I just need a name before I can put it together. These stockings are not all "matchy-matchy" -- the adults have solid red or green or white, -- these are Arwen and Bryan's; Arwen sent the picture for the update-- with assorted prints for trim. The grandkids have print ones with solid trim. They are fun to do, but I'm sure glad to be done for now!

The singing part refers to our church choir. Instead of doing the same mass every week, we do 5PM, 8AM, 9:30 and 11:30 in rotation, and then have a week off. This week was 8AM; nobody's favorite, but the little old ladies love us! (That is, the ones who aren't singing with us.) Anyway, it was almost worth getting up at 6:30 because we got to sing this:


On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings.

Then cleansed be every heart from sin;
Make straight the way of God within,
Let every heart prepare a home
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

For you are our salvation, Lord,
Our refuge and our great reward;
Without your grace we waste away
Like flowers that wither and decay.

To heal the sick stretch out your hand,
And bid the fallen sinner stand;
Shine forth and let your light restore
Earth's own true loveliness once more.

All praise the Son eternally
Whose advent sets His people free;
Whom with the Father we adore
And Spirit blest for evermore.

(If you go here you can hear the MIDI and see the original words)