first week of advent

The holy and mysterious season of Advent is here.  It is a season of waiting, longing, and calling out for God to be more present in this broken yet beautiful world.  At SALT, we want to make the most of the four weeks leading up to Christmas by lighting candles, reading scripture, praying, and meditating - wanna join us?

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Light

One Candle for Hope

Read

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined.”  + Isaiah 9:2

Pray

God of hope and healing, in the soft light of this single candle, gather us, quiet us, melt our hearts, and focus us so that we might be able to hear the voices of your prophets and angels, whispering even now, calling across the centuries:  “Glory,” “Peace on earth,” “Swords into plowshares,” “Mercy,” “Reconciliation,” and “Be not afraid.”  Let these words be our prayer, and let us pray it in the name of your heart wrapped in flesh, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Practice

Monday:  Remember the Christmas story, and be alert today to the wonder all around.  A family packs their donkey, the stars hold their breath, a census decree goes out, everything swells with hope, a baby kicks in the womb, angels unfurl their wings, fear has no power, everything is possible!

Tuesday:  Listen to what Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian imprisoned and executed for his attempt to overthrow Hitler, had to say about the season of Advent:  “A prison cell, in which one waits and hopes and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.”

Wednesday:  Mark World AIDS Day by wearing a red ribbon and praying without ceasing that the stigma, fear, and shame of HIV/AIDS might be lifted, and that prevention and medicine might be available to all.

Thursday:  Alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters who celebrate the first day of Hanukkah today, light your house entirely by candlelight.  

Friday:  Tape a piece of paper or fabric over the television - then cook, read, listen to music, and live on love!

Meditate

For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” + Isaiah 41:13

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Thanks to Zitona for capturing God's soft and hope-filled light.