by guest writer Lucinda Smith
The air is colder, the clouds denser, the green leaves are subtly turning and the crisper, browner ones already lie crunchy beneath our feet. Autumn is slipping into winter, here in England. The seasons come and go, bringing a rhythm and a structure to the years – they tell of things past and those that are yet to come – sun and sand and dappled grass recede, exposing us once again to dark mornings and central heating, thick jumpers and hot chocolate.
Sometimes though, we find ourselves unexpectedly in a season of life that feels out of sync – as though the order has been reversed or harshly interrupted, without either our knowledge or permission. It jolts us and catches us unawares. This is where I find myself today. This is where many, across the world, find themselves, due to Covid-19. We have been thrown sideways, and are struggling to find our feet, again.
It’s always tempting to ask God, the ‘why?’ questions, but He seems seldom to answer those. When we find ourselves facing an unplanned turn of events, it’s better to ask the ‘what?’ or ‘how?’ questions. A new chapter, an enforced season of rest or of activity, a pandemic – what can this unforeseen situation teach me about who you are, Father God? How can I be more like Jesus in it?
Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) writes these wonderful words:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Our lives as well as the world of nature, are marked by seasons and cycles – birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age and death. When we are old we become childlike again – from dust we came, and to dust, we shall return. As Solomon says, nothing lasts forever, nothing is set in stone. Let’s choose to yield to God’s presence and leading, as we navigate the known and unknown, with Him.
The Lord of winter and spring, summer and autumn wants to be sought and found, in the changing and varied seasons of our fragile humanity. He is not shocked or surprised by what we didn’t see coming. His promise to us is always, ‘I will be with you’. Really, what more could we ask for?
Bio for Lucinda Smith
Lucinda is married to Steve, a GP, and they live in Preston, Lancashire. She has four children, seven grandchildren and a lovely chocolate Labrador! The subject she is most passionate about is IDENTITY, and, in the days before Covid 19, she spoke regularly at women’s breakfasts and small conferences. She is currently in the process of writing a book, The Red Thread, based around the story of adopting their fourth child from China. In a former life, Lucinda and Steve were medical missionaries in Pakistan. She loves mentoring young women on their journeys with Jesus, walking, books, good films and cream teas!
Thanks to Photerrestrial @photerrestrial for making this photo available freely on Unsplash.com
By Lilly Lewin
I’ve actually seen several Christmas trees in windows as I’ve walked and prayed for our neighborhood since Halloween. I’m personally not ready to put up the tree (I just finally decorated for Fall and Thanksgiving!). But I am ready to start on the pilgrimage of Advent. I am ready to Lean towards the LIGHT! This weekend begins Celtic Advent. Celtic Christians start the Advent journey early beginning on November 15th and continuing on to the regular four weeks of traditional Advent in December. Celtic Christians use the 40 days before Christmas to prepare their hearts for the arrival of the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, just like the 40 days of Lent prepares us for Easter. With all that is going on right now in our world, I think we need more time to ponder the Light who is Jesus and we need more opportunities to bring LIGHT into our world.
I love that Christine’s book Lean Towards the Light this Advent & Christmas starts this week too. Order it and join us on the journey this year!
Isaiah 9:2-7 The Message (MSG)
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
What do you notice about this passage? What does the Holy Spirit highlight for you?
How have you been walking in darkness this week? What things have caused you to live in the land of deep shadows? Talk to Jesus about this?
As an act of confession, write these things down on a piece of paper and then burn them in your fireplace, fire pit or in pyrex bowl outside. Let the LIGHT of JESUS shine in these dark places.
The LIGHT bursts into the darkness and it’s cause for great celebration!
Where have you experienced the small or big joys and celebrations this week? Maybe it was a change in weather or funny video someone sent you… it doesn’t have to be super spiritual to be a glimpse of God’s LIGHT! Create a THANK YOU/Gratitude window in your home with POST IT NOTES. Write down the things that are bringing you joy, the places you’ve seen or experienced LIGHT and other things your are grateful for and create a stained glass window with post it notes.
Create a Thank You Window
What could you do to experience more “festival joy” this week or the days ahead as Advent begins? Take some time to think, pray and plan with Jesus. You might plan something with your spouse, your roommates or your children.
The people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” JESUS
How do you need the LIGHT of JESUS to dawn in your life this week? Talk to Jesus about this.
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENT WREATH OR CANDLE TRAY
starting Advent in Fall Colors
- Create an Advent wreath or candle tray. I’ve used all sorts of candles. The tray above has 7 candles for the 6 weeks before Christmas and a Candle to represent JESUS THE LIGHT. Light these each night starting with Celtic Advent on Sunday, Nov. 15th and then when the first week of Advent starts on Sunday, Nov. 30th, take away the two extras and you will have the 4 traditional candles and one representing JESUS THE LIGHT left on the tray.
Advent CANDLE tray
BRING LIGHT TO THE WORLD
Pray with a Map
- FIND A MAP OF THE WORLD and begin to Pray for Places to see and experience the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. You can print out a map you find on the internet, find one at a store, or even buy a shower curtain with the map of the world to use as a table cloth to remind you to pray for the LIGHT OF JESUS to shine in dark places. You can use tea light candles to add your map to highlight specific places you are praying for or you can use glow in the dark stars if you have younger kids or just want some fun! Print out a map, write down your prayers on the map, or draw on it with bright colors, bringing the LIGHT of JESUS to those countries you are praying for today. You can keep your map out throughout Advent adding candles and/or stars and praying for more places to celebrate and know the LIGHT and LOVE OF JESUS.
TASTE SOME SALT
SALT and LIGHT
3. TASTE SOME SALT and LIGHT ANOTHER CANDLE… Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world–like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.
Matthew 5:1-15
Put out some salt, a box, a salt shaker, a small bowl of salt. Taste a bit each day to remind you to bring flavor of Jesus to your world. When you see a salt shaker, let it be a reminder to bring the FLAVOR OF JESUS to your family, friends, coworkers, housemates etc. As you taste the salt and/or see a SALT SHAKER/CONTAINER pray for someone you know who needs the love and LIGHT of Jesus this Advent.
PLAY SOME MUSIC
LIGHT a Candle and LISTEN
Play or LISTEN TO MUSIC. There are three songs below about salt and light. Take some time to listen to other music that brings you joy and helps you see the LIGHT. Create your own playlist of songs to help you experience more JOY and LIGHT in the days ahead.
If you are leading worship this Advent or leading a group online, join me for a workshop next Friday, Nov. 20th via Zoom at 2pm Central Time TITLE: FreerangeWorship Workshop: Creating and Experiencing Sacred Space Worship in Unfamiliar Times. We will experience online worship together and I’ll give you ideas for Advent, Christmas and Healing post-election. Message me for the details. And check out the Advent and Christmas Sacred Space Kits that are great for worship if you are able to meet in person and can be created in a COVID-safe way.
FreeRangeWorship Workshop
Also, check out Christine’s Advent Retreat that can be experienced on your own time. And mark your calendars and join us for BLUE CHRISTMAS on December 8th. It will be a multi-sensory gathering of friends from all over the world acknowledging the many emotions of the season, especially in 2020!
So many ways to help you experience more of the LIGHT of JESUS in this crazy time. Don’t try to do all of them. Pick one or two that will help you connect more with JESUS and others this season. Even just simply lighting a candle each morning with your coffee and asking Jesus to bring his light to your day is enough!
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
by Lisa DeRosa
Tomorrow, November 13th is World Kindness Day. Especially this year, I appreciate that this celebration follows closely behind election day in the US, when we need this reminder the most.
Its purpose is clearly stated “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.”
I appreciated reading the ideas that the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation gives for #MakeKindnessTheNorm. So practical, simple, and easy to do while distant socializing! Check out 35 more if you need ideas!
Yes! Magazine shares images in “Some Kind of Wonderful” as an artistic representation of kindness to neighbors during the pandemic.
One resource I found is Kindness Matters, which is “a campaign designed to improve the way all people interact with each other. It is in honor of 13 year old Peyton A. James, who took his life after years of being bullied.” Sadly, Peyton was not alone in his action of ending his life due to bullying… “Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC.” My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones due to the lack of kindness of other humans in all aspects of this broken world, including bullying, rudeness, hate crimes, racism, and the list goes on.
As believers, we are called to be kind! God is so kind to us!!! It is clear throughout the Bible that as people who love God, we are to love people and show kindness towards them, because God continually shows it to us.
- Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you. LORD, they live in the light of your kindness. Psalm 89:15 (NIV)
- The LORD appeared to us in the past. He said, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with a kindness that never fails. Jeremiah 31:13 (NIV)
- All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring. His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven. Luke 1:78 (NIV)
- Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
- But he has given proof of what he is like. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. He gives you crops in their seasons. He provides you with plenty of food. He fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17 (NIV)
- You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient. Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
- To godliness, add kindness for one another. And to kindness for one another, add love. 2 Peter 1:17 (NIV)
Reading those verses motivates me toward a posture of kindness. I know with my busy schedule, selfishness, and excuses, it’s so easy to miss out on opportunities to be kind! But when I slow down and stop to recognize the amazing kindness that God has for me and other humans He created, I want to share that with people! Everyone can use a kind word or act in their day!
These days, even the simple act of listening to someone can feel like a huge source of kindness. In our world where there is so much noise and everyone seems to be trying to talk over one another, listening is hard to come by. Maybe that can be the small, random act of kindness that you choose for today.
What are ways that you can make kindness the norm in your life? Challenge yourself to one random act of kindness that you want to do tomorrow. Or start today! Please share what you decide with us!
For more ideas and reading about World Kindness Day, check out these posts:
November 11th is an important day of remembrance. In the U.S., it is Veteran’s Day, honoring all military veterans who have been honorably discharged. In Australia and other Commonwealth countries, it is known as Remembrance Day and in some European countries, it is called Armistice Day marking the anniversary of the end of World War I.
I wrote this prayer several years ago for Memorial Day, another U.S. holiday which honors those who have died in military service, but I feel that the prayer is also very appropriate for today as it reflects our deep desire for healing and for peace.
Prayer for Remembrance/Veteran’s Day
God we remember and we grieve,
For those who have died fighting in wars in all places and all times.
For young lives cut short before their time.
For the atrocities they experienced and perpetrated.
God we remember and we grieve,
For those who were injured.
For veterans maimed, disfigured and homeless.
For sufferers of post traumatic stress syndrome.
God we remember and we grieve,
For civilian victims of war.
For refugees who have lost families and homes
For those who were raped and tortured.
God we remember and we grieve,
May they turn our thoughts to peace and not to war.
May they turn our actions to reconciliation and not to violence.
May they encourage us to restore not to destroy.
God we remember and we grieve,
May your peaceable kingdom come,
And your will for good be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Amen
Scripture
You may also want to pray through these Bible verses for veterans that you know and for their families from CrossWalk.com
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. – Psalm 29:11
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. – Psalm 33:20-22
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. – Psalm 91:1-3
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.– John 14:27“
Resources and Support for Veterans
Here are a few resources that I found that could be useful for veterans in need.
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Counseling and Assistance Programs by Military One Source
- Soldier’s Angels
- US Department of Veteran Affairs – Employment Toolkit
Photo above: Veterans who served on the battleship Missouri attending anniversary of the end of WWII by U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin. (RELEASED) – Source, Public Domain
by guest writer Lucinda Smith
Our heads are often full of voices – voices that pull us in opposing directions. There are so many words and not enough spaces in between. These words vie for our attention and the voices seem to demand some sort of action. At least, that is how it has felt for me these past few weeks.
Sometimes, there are emotions, strong and deep, that are attached to the words and this complicates things. Some of these, I know from experience, will subside, but others feel like I will break and tear apart under their weight.
Jesus says, in John 10:4 his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
As followers of Jesus, he is our good shepherd and we are his sheep. We have chosen to follow him because we have seen and found, in him, the way to life and peace and purpose. But the ‘following after him’ can get so complicated – others are journeying with us and the path gets crowded and confusing. It’s not as simple as we had thought it would be, or perhaps, as we had been told it would be.
I am 60 years old, and have learned a few things. I have discerned that there is only one voice that I must heed. Only one voice that speaks truth. Only one of the many, is distinguished and marked by love. Only some of the myriad of words that swirl around my head, competing for my attention, only some, will bring me life. I have learned this, but am also still learning this.
Jesus says that he is the Way, the Truth, the Life. What He says is not only true, it is THE TRUTH. This must mean that his words are superior to any other words that I may be tempted to listen to. Even when they don’t feel like THE TRUTH, they are THE TRUTH, and I can choose to believe them, or not. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They have learned to discern truth from lies.
In this same passage, Jesus says this about his sheep ‘they will never follow a stranger; in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice’. He is so confident, isn’t he? So confident that the sheep will only listen to his voice.
Which brings me back to me, and the cacophony of sound that has filled my head just recently… ‘Jesus, I choose your voice only. I choose to focus so hard on your words that those of the stranger will drop away, as yours come into focus. Your words will never tear me down, they will not suck life out of me, they do not insult me or belittle me or cause me to consider myself to be either “too much, or not enough”. Your voice brings me comfort and is sweet and is often whispered – it reminds me of who I am and whose I am, and that is enough. You have said that I will not recognise the voice of the stranger, and therefore I choose to give it no space, no value, no power…’
————-
Bio for Lucinda Smith
Lucinda is married to Steve, a GP, and they live in Preston, Lancashire. She has four children, seven grandchildren and a lovely chocolate Labrador! The subject she is most passionate about is IDENTITY, and, in the days before Covid 19, she spoke regularly at women’s breakfasts and small conferences. She is currently in the process of writing a book, The Red Thread, based around the story of adopting their fourth child from China. In a former life, Lucinda and Steve were medical missionaries in Pakistan. She loves mentoring young women on their journeys with Jesus, walking, books, good films and cream teas!
by Christine Sine
Are you craving Christmas light already this year? You are not alone. I have bought some new strings of lights to illuminate the backyard and am planning an Advent garden with lots of light too. We all need plenty of light this year and we need it early – not just physical light, but spiritual light, too.
As I reflected on how I could bring more light to this season, I was reminded of a paper light box I was given last year by some dear friends who had just visited Palestine. The light was crafted by a disabled Palestinian man in Bethlehem who was trying to support his large family on a very meager income. I lit it each morning as a reminder to pray for those who are marginalized and abandoned in our world.
I pulled it out of my box of Christmas ornaments this morning, wondering as I did so what has happened to that man and so many marginalized people like him who have been further marginalized by the pandemic and the economic hardships it has created. I desperately need this light and others like it to keep reminding me of how Jesus usually appeared to those at the margins, to the disabled, the abused and the excluded. Even at his birth, it is the disabled, the despised, the abandoned and the excluded who are most prominent around the manger. It is in them that the Christ light seems to shine most brightly.
Paper lantern from Bethlehem
We all want the light of Christ to grow stronger in our lives as we move towards Christmas. That is part of the reason that we chose the title Lean Towards the Light this Advent & Christmas for our Advent devotional and seasonal theme this year. However if you are like me you probably need more than a daily devotional to remind you. You need lots of light around you, and you need to respond to Lilly Lewin’s question from Friday: Where have you seen the light? not just in thought, but in deed.
It may seem a little early for this, but I decided to reflect on this question while making my own cut out paper light like I did last year. Once again, I chose a star as my pattern – being very aware that the light of Christ shines in us and draws all the disabled, the abandoned, the excluded and despised to himself in special ways at this season. So I watched the video tutorial below and made a star. I didn’t have the right kind of paper or backing so I had to improvise a bit – backing my star with tissue paper and then taping it to a large jar that once had tulips growing in it. It wasn’t perfect but it was a wonderful focus for my reflections and a great reminder of the kind of God that we follow.
Watch the tutorial and while you are making your star, reflect on the question: How can I make the light of Christ shine more brightly as I get ready for the Christmas season? When you are finished, sit in silence for a couple of moments allowing God to speak clearly to you. Write down what comes to mind. Take particular note of how God prompts you to reach out to the marginalized in your community.
Now that you have created your star, find a jar or a vase that you can use for your lantern. You will also need a piece of tissue paper and some glue so that you can paste your star to the tissue paper.
Large glass jar
Jar coated in tissue paper
Paste your star to the paper and tape it or glue it around the vase or jar. I actually used a paper clip at the top as I didn’t want something that would be difficult to remove afterwards. Find an electric candle to place inside it and light it. Prayerfully consider what other ways God might be prompting you to shine the light of Christ into our world as the birth of Christ approaches.
Pasting on the star
My lantern sits in my office/sacred space next to one of my orchids and I plan to light it each morning as a reminder of the approaching birth of Jesus our bright and morning star and of his call to shine God’s light into this broken world.
Paper star lantern
NOTE: This exercise is adapted from one of the activity in the final module of our Advent Retreat Lean Towards The Light
by Christine Sine
As we move closer to the festive season this year with a growing number of countries returning to lockdown and those of us in the U.S. struggling with a staggering upsurge in COVID, we all need times of contemplation and reflection to refresh and renew us and bring us peace. This week’s contemplative service from St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seattle does that for many of us. I pray you will drink deeply from its waters and allow it to draw you closer to the Eternal One.
A contemplative service with music in the style-of-Taize for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756 with additional notes below.
“Da Pacem Cordium,” and “Atme in Uns” are songs from the Taize community – copyright and all rights reserved by GIA/Les Presses de Taizé.
“Even in Sorrow” – Composed by Kester Limner in March 2020 for the people of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, shared under the Creative Commons License, Attribution (CC-BY).
“Kyrie for November 8, 2020” – Text and music by Kester Limner, shared under the Creative Commons
License, Attribution (CC-BY).
“His Eye is on the Sparrow” – is a public domain hymn written in 1905 by Civilla D. Martin and Charles H. Gabriel.
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