Advent Greetings Amistad!

Just when it seems the world's torn apart,
Let Christ be born anew in your heart.
Love is the strongest power on earth;
Come to the manger and welcome the birth!
                                    - "Advent Introit" by Jim Manley

Friday, December 2 --  1st Friday in Advent as well as Terry's Birthday Celebration!  We'll ponder "Incarnation: En-meat-ment."  We remember that the primal Word did not become "idea" or "emotion" or even "hope, love, joy and peace" but rather flesh.  Meat.  Carne.  DNA.  The stuff that lives and dies and rots and helps to fertilize new life.  What on earth does that mean, that God is in-the-meat?? 

Friday, December 9 --  2nd Friday in Advent brings another visit with our amiga, La Virgen de Guadalupe. 

Friday, December 16 --  3rd Friday in Advent, a short service of lessons and carols and communion, plus a Litany of Darkness and Light from the Church in New Zealand (where they'll be celebrating the Summer Solstice!)  Then we'll let the old, familiar carols ring...  Kazoo carols anyone??  

Friday, December 23 --  telling the old, old story once again...

Friday, December 30 --  "The song of the angels is stilled, the star in the sky is gone, the sages and shepherds have found their way home, the work of Christmas is begun..."  We'll sing Jim Strathdee's song and read Howard Thurman's poem and consider the work of Christmas for us, here and now.

Wednesday, December 21 --  yet another opportunity to Greet the Sun on the Solstice!  Gather at the Travis Credit Union parking lot off Allison Drive by 7:20 a.m.; sunrise will be at  7:21 a.m.  We'll watch the sun come up on the shortest day of the year and read together the prologue to John's gospel, "the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it..."  Then we can go out to coffee at Starbucks and reflect together on darkness, light and lattes.