First Sunday of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent!

ad•vent (ad’ vent) n. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important.

The advent season is a time of expectant waiting. We look forward with excitement to the celebration of Christmas; we wait for the return of longer days after the solstice; and we anticipate the arrival of grace in our hearts.

Grace is a state of being - at peace, free, filled with love & light.

I'll fill the next weeks with decorating, baking, buying gifts, and singing songs... but enfolding the busyness is the simple, deep peace and love of advent. I wait, anticipate, and learn again that transformation is a slow process.

Agenda today:
1. Advent prayer

2. Grace notes
3. Plan activities to express my unity with nature
4. Advent wreath ceremony

1. Advent Prayer:

Photo by Alan Gillespie

May all I say and all I think 

be in harmony with thee, 

God within me, 

God beyond me, 

maker of the trees.

— Chinook prayer, Pacific Northwest Coast

2. Grace notes:
The Greek Bible uses the Greek word charis, which is translated as grace, kindness, favor, or blessing. It means "unmerited favor". My charisma is the gift I got at birth, freely given me. 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 describes some of the gifts (charismata) that God gives us - wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophecy, discernment, the ability to heal or work miracles, and makes clear that we do not all receive the same gifts in the same abundance.

My particular set of gifts includes discernment, tenacity, joy in learning, and a loving heart. These are the gifts I have, freely given me and freely offered back to the world.

Advent is a time set aside each year to come into contact with my own need for grace. Today I ask:

Where in my life do I need greater peace, love, and light?

What am I waiting for this advent?

How can I use my gifts this month to serve my family, my community, and the Earth? 

The more I carry these questions within, and let them penetrate through the layers of distraction and self-protection, the more powerfully I will experience Advent.

3. Plan activities to express my unity with nature:

My theme for this first week of advent is to cherish and care for the earth. When my kids were young, we did earth activities together all of this week. Now I continue the tradition with my grandson.

My goal this week is to reaffirm my unity with nature. Generally, I do this by giving attention to nature, and by remembering to find joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, using, and wasting.

Things I might do this week to express unity with nature:

• Spend time outdoors to get in touch with the season. Walk and bike to get places. Visit a wild area. Rake leaves, or turn the compost.
• Pay attention to the weather, the outdoor temperature, the birds, the sky, the leaves, the moon cycle.
• Learn more about the wildlife that lives in our area in the winter; find out what they eat. Learn the names of the trees in the neighborhood. Learn the names of the clouds.
• Give care to the plants and animals. Feed the wild birds. Give special attention to our ducks and dog.
• Bring nature indoors- collect greens, pine cones, straw, and other natural materials. Use natural materials to make gifts and decorations.
• Think about the lifestyle choices I make that are harmful to the earth and it's creatures, and commit to living more sustainably.

4. Advent wreath ceremony:

When my kids were young, I wrote four short advent prayers - one for each week - to recite together as we lit the candles. The prayers hold themes that are still meaningful for us, and we have used them ever since. This year I get to include my two grandsons in the candle ceremony! 

Tonight we light the first advent candle (the green one, for the earth), and say this prayer:

“We light the first candle for the earth, which sustains us. May we cherish and care for it.”

Each night this week, we will let this first candle burn while the kids prepare to return home, and while we eat dinner.