The Three L's of Advent (CL)

Let me start with one of my favorite poems, "Winter," by Greta Crosby…

Let us not wish away the winter.

It is a season to itself, not simply the way to spring.

When trees rest, growing no leaves, gathering no light, they let in sky and trace themselves delicately against dawns and sunsets.

The clarity and brilliance of the winter sky delight.

The loom of fog softens edges, lulls the eyes and ears of the quiet, awakens by risk the unquiet. A low dark sky can snow, emblem of individuality, liberality, and aggregate power.

Snow invites to contemplation and to sport.

Winter is a table set with ice and starlight.

Winter dark tends to warm light: fire and candle, winter cold to hugs and huddles, winter wants to gifts and sharing, winter danger to visions, plans, and common endeavoring, and the zest of narrow escapes, winter tedium to merrymaking.

Let us therefore praise winter, rich in beauty, challenge, and pregnant negatives.

The winter is almost upon us, and certainly the days are getting shorter and the darkness creeping in longer and longer intervals. It is a time "rich in beauty, challenge, and pregnant negatives." The negative space of darkness, empty trees, and cold are ready to be filled by our light, life, and love.

December's worship theme is "Advent." This is a special time, a time of waiting, a time of anticipation, a time for growth… It is a time set aside to honor the darkness, to honor the negative space. It is a time to prepare for the coming of the light, or in Christian theology, to prepare for the birth of Jesus, who brought a message of love and life to the world.

So much of this season has been twisted into a month of the three S's: Shopping, Spending, & Stressing, when instead it should be a time for the three L's: Light, Life, and Love.

This year in honor of Advent and the holiday season, I will be posting an "Advent Calendar" of sorts each week in the narthex of the church, as well as through our online newsletter ("In the Know"). For each day in the coming week I will list an idea for how to practice the three L's.  I hope you will try along with me, and e-mail me with your feelings, joys, struggles, and ideas.

For next week…

Saturday, December 1- Have you made your holiday budget? Debt is no way to honor the season… Talk with your family about your financial resources and how you plan to spend this season (consider: travel, parties, gifts, postage, decorations, food, and clothes!)

Sunday, December 2- Now that you've made your holiday budget, consider giving a portion to UUCA's "Greater Good Project." Your giving should be a part of your budget, not in addition. The recipient this year, selected by the kids in R.E., is "Creating Communities" a local arts mentorship program for underserved youth. Together we can do good!!

Monday, December 3- Thankful for your life and health, consider giving blood at your local Red Cross. Or, check to be sure you are an organ donor!

Tuesday, December 4- Spend a few minutes today looking at the beauty of candlelight. See how fragile it is, and yet how strong its light. What does that mean for you?

Wednesday, December 5-  Call someone you love, and tell them how much they mean to you.

Thursday, December 6- Save some paper grocery bags or portions of last year's holiday cards to make this year's greetings in a environmentally-friendly way! Hand-written, drawn, or stamped greetings are especially meaningful.

Friday, December 7-  UUCA supports the Lighthouse Shelter year-round, and especially at the holidays. Talk to Carrie Kotcho for more information about how to help. CKotcho@verizon.net.

Saturday, December 8-  Hanukkah Begins at sunset tonight! Celebrate with potato latkes… shredded potatoes, with egg, flour, and salt fried in oil. Mmm!

Sunday, December 9- Join us for our annual holiday tradition at UUCA: Stone Soup! Bring a soup ingredient to church in the morning, and come back at 4pm to make decorations, homemade gifts, and celebrate a communal meal in honor of our diversity and unity. Bring a family-tradition dish to share, along with the recipe to go into our new "We Are Stone Soup" Cookbook.