An Active Advent, Round 2
but first a few links you might enjoy ...
This week I led two groups of women through my Preparing to Wait mini-retreat. It’s one of my favorite events of the year and I am already looking forward to putting together something similar for Lent. During our time, we paused, prayed, listened, and took (many) deep breaths together.
This morning, as I listed out my to-do’s for today, including write a substack, I decided that I might need to listen to Jan Richardson’s words, that I read aloud during the retreat. She implores us:
Stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait.
Last year, I wrote two Advent posts, though I’d planned to write four. I wrote about active hope and active peace. I’m planning to write about active joy and active love this year, but I need to sit with my ideas a bit longer. I need to linger. To wait. To behold.
In the meantime, I’ll link last year’s essays and a few other Advent links you might be interested in. I’ll be back in this space when it’s time to light the candle of Joy.
hope and peace to you until then,
Holly
What I’m reading and listening to this Advent:
I love reading books with my kids, especially Advent and Christmas books. Here are a few of my favorite picture books for this time of year: Night Tree, By Eve Bunting, Little Mole’s Christmas Gift, by Glenys Nellist, Letters from Father Christmas, by JRR Tolkien (we have enjoyed the audio version!) and Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd Jones
Here are two books for kids that have readings for each day of December (younger kids) Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider, and (older kids) All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss. It’s okay that we’re already a week in to December, we always end up missing a few days and doubling up!
I’m enjoying the Christmas albums from Hiss Golden Messenger if you’re looking for something to listen to this holiday season — O Come All Ye Faithful and The Sounding Joy. I also love LOVE Sandra McCracken’s Christmas Album.
I’m currently reading Even After Everything by Stephanie Duncan Smith — it follows the church calendar, so if you start it now you’ll be in Advent and Christmas! I also love Kelly Nicondeha’s The First Advent in Palestine - a book I continue to come back to year after year.