ADVENT ALPHABET continued

 D = DARTS

My mother was and remains a total, amazing gift that we were blessed to have as our mum. She shone even more during the holidays; from decorations, to cookies, to meals, to rituals both new and old, to the gifts she thoughtfully purchased, Dorothy made Christmas amazing for her family.

When her two grandsons were the ages of five and nine, Mom decided to buy them a gift she knew they'd really enjoy...a total Dorothy Snyder thing to do.  Note: we are a family of hunters. In our family one quickly learns to ask "what season is it?" The grandsons dad, my brother, is a successful hunter and he shared the love of hunting with his sons. Keeping that in mind, Dorothy decided a great gift for the grandsons would be....of course.....blow darts. 

Though she thought she was purchasing a toy....nope....Mom bought the grandsons real blow dart guns ---- the kind with the metal tipped darts....serious stuff

Of course, the grandsons loved the gift! My brothers thought it was tremendous and quickly assembled a large cardboard box, blew up balloons and affixed them to the target.  A good portion of Christmas day was spent hearing the "pfffft" "smack" and "pop" of an actual blow dart being shot and hitting its target.  Echoing in the background was my mother's refrain, "O, my....I really thought it was a toy....I would never have bought a real weapon for two small children......"

E = ECHOES

In the stillness of the season, pause, be silent, listen.  One will hear plainly the voices of those persons with whom one has shared the wonder and warmth of Christmas. A photo, a gift received, a story, a remembrance ---- don't rush onto the next thing ---- give yourself a minute, or longer, and be still and allow the person to be present to you once again.  Gift yourself the echoes of their voices and their laughter.

F = FAKE

In a season celebrating the Incarnation of God in Jesus becoming human and dwelling with us, I am a stickler for the real stuff.  I rarely scored congregational points when I would strongly suggest having a real Christmas tree in the sanctuary, which, to properly fill that large a space, required a seriously sized tree. Having the live tree up for over a month needed some blessed building trustee being responsible for watering and cleaning up the fallen needles.  I admit that I stretched their notions of peace and goodwill towards all. 

So too, I wanted real pine boughs or cedar branches on the windowsills and for goodness sakes don't even mention plastic, battery-operated candles!  Somewhere it must be written that Christmas Eve candlelight MUST use actual candles. What little kid doesn't like to play with fire.....there are enough adults surrounding that all is fine. GET REAL!

AN ADVENT ALPHABET

 Advent is my favorite church season --- the quiet, the stillness, the waiting, the preparing, the longing, the  building ritual with the candles as more and more light enters our world. More than any time in my memory, we all are in that Advent mood.  We wait.  We are in darkness.  There is a promise (fill in what that is for you this season...go ahead...I'll pause....) that we long to be fulfilled. We are afraid. In spite of all the evidence we keep hope and wait for it "to float up." 

    My plan is to re-ignite my blog.  I will do an ADVENT ALPHABET, taking three letters at a post, adding a fourth letter to the concluding writing.   On Sundays, along with the alphabet post, I will also have the text of what, based on the lectionary texts, I would preach that Sunday. One never knows, I may get daring enough to video myself given the sermon. 

The "Pebbles to Ripples" blog will be posted Wednesdays (beginning today, 3 December) Fridays and Sundays. 

I invite you to journey beside me through this blog.  

Please invite others by forwarding the link.

A = ATTENTION

Simone Weil wrote, "love's first step is attention." Advent is a season that rewards paying attention. Each week we watch one more candle be lighted on the Advent wreath; we check worship  bulletins hoping the pastor whom is being true to the season will finally get off of singing "Lo, How A Rose 'Ere Blooming" and actually select a favorite hymn everyone knows; we note when another house becomes decorated; and family's ponder a new spot to place their "Elf on the Shelf"  as children train their eyes to be always on the ready. 

One of the appeals of the season, is that it all happens in rhythm with all the day-to-day of living side by side with everyone doing what needs to be done. Thousands of persons trekked to Bethlehem to be counted, probably many women on route were with child.  The birth is in a stable behind a packed inn. Aside from some cows, a couple donkeys, some mice and a few birds in the rafters the child arrives as baby's do through screams, pushes, fluids and pain. 

To get the message, one has to pay attention. Angels are among us if you open yourself to look and listen.

B = BOOKS

My go to gifts are books. Finding the right read to fit someone delights me. One has to know the person for whom one purchases a book. The best is finding the book you just know she will enjoy. Of course, there is the bliss of shopping for Children's Books.  Looking for a book to give a child reader? May I suggest:

• WHEN RED RANGER CAME CALLING by Berkeley Breathed
• PETE AND PICKLES by Berkeley Breathed
• HOW MURRAY SAVED CHRISTMAS by Mike Reiss
• THE OLD TURTLE by Douglas Wood

. This started for me at the ripe age of 5. My Aunt Florence gifted the grandest books! Prized possessions are the signed and dated Dr. Seuss books (she gave the good stuff!)  such as "Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose" and "Horton Hears a Who."  A book has permanence and connection. A gifted book evidenced of thought given to its purchase remains held and opened.

C = CANDLELIGHT                

A few weeks ago, I participated in a 24-Hour Pre-Advent Retreat, a gift that met a need. The opening session persons were asked to share their favorite memories of the season.  No surprise, 90% of the responses were Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. The darkened sanctuary, the Christ candle, the light spreading around the congregation as the haunting melody of "Slient Night" is played and sung --- all strike a chord within us.  The moment resonates because we have spent so many Christmas Eves participating in this worship. It moves us because it is a tangible symbol of the Light shining in the darkness and affirming the darkness shall never overcome it.  Amen....now more than ever.