The office is quiet this morning. I think the phones have rung once in the two or so hours that we've been open. I'm here until noon, and then headed to my parent's home until late this evening.
There are the requisite "bacon thingy's" (we're not sure what to call them) to make with my brother this afternoon for the Christmas Eve family appetizer feast (and for Christmas dinner appetizers tomorrow at my aunt's house.) Basically you take whole water chestnuts, make an extremely thick paste of brown sugar and teriyaki sauce, soak the water chestnuts in the paste, wrap the water chestnuts in bacon, secure with toothpicks, and then bake until they're hot and the bacon is cooked. My brothers would be quite distressed if these "once a year" treats I've been making for years now didn't appear.
Then dad's church is holding a short service, at my parent's house tonight (the church rents a school, not available on Christmas eve.)
And that will be followed by eating, laughing and talking with my family. The five of us, plus the boys girlfriends, and maybe my grandma. Christmas Eve is one of my favorite nights of the year for this reason - it's rare, these days especially that the five of us are in one place, and in a good mood. It's fun to just laugh and talk and be together, sometimes playing games, sometimes just hanging out.
Tomorrow will be filled with a little bit more family time, and a lot of extended family time. But tonight is the night I look forward to.
Advent draws to a close after today.
Late tonight I'll return home from my parents, with gift wrapping still to be done, and perhaps an ornament to be constructed for myself, but I'll pause and light the advent candles again, this time lighting the Christ candle in the centre. Last year my Christ candle became a gift to some friends, a symbol of four weeks of prayers and longings. This year I'm looking forward to it remaining on my dresser, ready to be lit in various moments through the year, moments of praying and remembering the longing for the coming of a Savior. Imannuel - God with us.
A few years ago I found I could pray only single words.
Those words still hold deep meaning to me today.
Hallelujah. (Glory to God.)
Immanuel. (God with us.)
Hallelujah. Immanuel. Hallelujah.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
For Fun
This particular quiz is actually quite accurate in describing me in some ways. And it made me smile.
You Are Christmas Eve |
 You are a patient person, and you would agree that anticipation is sometimes better than the main event. There's something magical about the night before Christmas - when it feels like anything could happen! You are a somewhat quiet and spiritual person. You need a lot of alone time to process what's going on around you. You are optimistic and idealistic. You can't help but feel like things are going to work out. |
There is a time to be born, and it is now
This prayer, from "Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth" by Walter Bruggemann seems appropriate for today, the last day of Advent.
~~~
There is a time to be born and a time to die.
And this is a time to be born.
So we turn to you, God of our life,
God of all our years,
God of our beginning.
Our times are in your hands.
Hear us as we pray:
For those of us too much into obedience,
birth us to the freedom of the gospel.
For those of us too much into self-indulgence,
birth us to discipleship in your ministry.
For those of us too much into cynicism,
birth us to the innocence of the Christ child.
For those of us too much into cowardice,
birth us to the courage to stand before
principalities and powers.
For those of us too much into guild,
birth us into forgiveness worked in your generosity.
For those of us too much into despair,
birth us into the promises you make to your people.
For those of us too much into control,
birth us into the the vulnerability of the cross.
For those of us too much into victimization,
birth us into the power of Easter.
For those of us too much into fatigue,
birth us into the energy of Pentecost.
We dare pray that you will do for us and among us and through us
what is needful for newness.
Give us the power to be receptive,
to take the newness you give,
to move from womb warmth to real life.
We make this prayer not only for ourselves, but
for our school at the brink of birth,
for the church at the edge of life,
for our city waiting for newness,
for your whole creation, with which ye yearn
in eager longing.
There is a time to be born, and it is now.
We sense the pangs and groans of your newness.
Come here now in the name of Jesus. Amen.
~~~
There is a time to be born and a time to die.
And this is a time to be born.
So we turn to you, God of our life,
God of all our years,
God of our beginning.
Our times are in your hands.
Hear us as we pray:
For those of us too much into obedience,
birth us to the freedom of the gospel.
For those of us too much into self-indulgence,
birth us to discipleship in your ministry.
For those of us too much into cynicism,
birth us to the innocence of the Christ child.
For those of us too much into cowardice,
birth us to the courage to stand before
principalities and powers.
For those of us too much into guild,
birth us into forgiveness worked in your generosity.
For those of us too much into despair,
birth us into the promises you make to your people.
For those of us too much into control,
birth us into the the vulnerability of the cross.
For those of us too much into victimization,
birth us into the power of Easter.
For those of us too much into fatigue,
birth us into the energy of Pentecost.
We dare pray that you will do for us and among us and through us
what is needful for newness.
Give us the power to be receptive,
to take the newness you give,
to move from womb warmth to real life.
We make this prayer not only for ourselves, but
for our school at the brink of birth,
for the church at the edge of life,
for our city waiting for newness,
for your whole creation, with which ye yearn
in eager longing.
There is a time to be born, and it is now.
We sense the pangs and groans of your newness.
Come here now in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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