'Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams

My kids all received Advent calendars yesterday from their Nana so it got me thinking of this wonderful poem by Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

Have a blessed first Sunday of Advent!

~Peter

'Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams

Monday 12th December 2011

The poem 'Advent Calendar' by Archbishop Rowan Williams was published in his first poetry collection, 'After Silent Centuries' (Oxford, 1994), and is now available in 'The Poems of Rowan Williams' (Oxford, 2002 and Grand Rapids MI, 2004). 

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'Advent Calendar' was set to music by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies as one of the 44 Anthems in theChoirbook for the Queen which was launched at Southwark Cathedral in November 2011.

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Advent Calendar

He will come like last leaf's fall.
One night when the November wind
has flayed the trees to the bone, and earth
wakes choking on the mould,
the soft shroud's folding.

He will come like frost.
One morning when the shrinking earth
opens on mist, to find itself
arrested in the net
of alien, sword-set beauty.

He will come like dark.
One evening when the bursting red
December sun draws up the sheet
and penny-masks its eye to yield
the star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come, will come,
will come like crying in the night,
like blood, like breaking,
as the earth writhes to toss him free.
He will come like child.

Installation of Malcolm C. Lester as Head of School of Grace Episcopal School, Kensington, Maryland

Photos from Malcolm C. Lester's Installation as Head of Grace Episcopal School, Maryland

Advent reflections at "Advent at St. Paul's" blog

A few years ago, I wrote daily reflections in Advent (http://adventemmanuel.blogspot.com/) based on some of the Daily Office (Morning and Evening Prayer) readings for the day and found it to be a way to delve deeply into the scripture, to prepare for the coming of Christ, and also to bring me to a place of contemplation in the swirl of the holiday season.

I have decided to re-start this project as we begin a New Year in the Church's liturgical calendar, and to post a bit of scripture, a brief reflection, and a prayer.  I hope you might also find some way to delve into this season of preparation and expectation and find some calm in the midst of the holiday storms.

You can find the "Advent at St. Paul's" blog HERE or http://adventatstpauls2012.blogspot.com/

Advent Blessings,

~Peter+

Revive our spirits!

Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, "I dwell in the high and holy place and also with the one who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15

Isaiah lays out an image of God who is, of course, in the "high and holy" place - that prevalent image of God transcendent.  God "on high" who is above us, and perhaps, also far away.  However, Isaiah also affirms the ways that God is profoundly imminent, is "with us" and is with us even when we are humble.  Perhaps, even, especially when we are contrite and humble.  And, Lord knows we do need to be revived, we do need our spirits enlivened, and we do need our hearts revived in this busy and swirling time of year.  Can we take the time to recognize our humility, can we take the time to stop, even for a while and see the ways that God is entering into our lives right where we are?  God's love is pouring out from on high, and God's love pours into us and enfolds us right here, right now, right where we are, and even for the likes of us!

God is with us, "Emmanuel"!

~Peter+

A Prayer for today

Holy God, you inhabit the high and lofty places, but you also inhabit the place where I am now, the blanket of love that enfolds me, the arms that hold me fast.  May I feel your presence in my life and may I be revived in spirit and heart.  Amen