Advent

My Advent Calendar: December 16

Diana Butler Bass 12-16-2008

My Advent Calendar: December 15

Diana Butler Bass 12-15-2008

This morning, I found window 15 outside the church building on the stairs leading up to the cathedral door. Upon opening it, a picture of a smiling family greeted me-a father, mother, and two children.

My Advent Calendar: December 13

Diana Butler Bass 12-13-2008

The December 13 window opens to the fourth gospel-the eagle symbol of the evangelist John.

My Advent Calendar: December 12

Diana Butler Bass 12-12-2008

Following on the theme of the last two windows, Dec. 12 on the Advent calendar opened to a picture of an ox with a book-the symbol of the gospel of Luke.

My Advent Calendar: December 11

Diana Butler Bass 12-11-2008

Not surprisingly, when I opened the eleventh window, it revealed a picture of a lion holding a book-the ancient Christian symbol for Mark the evangelist.

My Advent Calendar: December 10

Diana Butler Bass 12-10-2008

As I opened window 10, I had to squint to see a small angelic figure holding a book-the traditional Christian symbol for Matthew, the gospel writer. Although Christmas conjures images of angels, the Matthew sign isn't an angel. His symbol is a human being with wings.

My Advent Calendar: December 9

Diana Butler Bass 12-09-2008

I had a hard time finding window nine, an elusive little door hidden in the bushes outside of the cathedral. When I opened it, there was a picture of one of the most famous of Jesus' stories: The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

My Advent Calendar: December 8

Diana Butler Bass 12-08-2008

My Advent Calendar: December 6

Diana Butler Bass 12-06-2008

When I opened the sixth window on the Advent calendar, a very traditional Christian picture greeted me: a shepherd carrying a sheep.

My Advent Calendar: December 5

Diana Butler Bass 12-05-2008

I'm on the road this morning. So I called my husband and asked him to open the fifth window on the Advent calendar. "What it is?" I asked. "Singing," he replied. "Not angels. No heavenly choir. People. People singing."

My Advent Calendar: December 4

Diana Butler Bass 12-04-2008

The fourth window of my Advent calendar opened to reveal a deer in the snow, a nostalgic vision of winter. A frosty Christmas card scene.

Christmas Presence

Michaela Bruzzese 12-04-2008

A few years ago, as I and the rest of the audience waited patiently for a passion play to begin, a homeless man burst into the church and began running up the aisle, screaming.

My Advent Calendar: December 3

Diana Butler Bass 12-03-2008

Who Moved My Cheese?

Nadia Bolz-Weber 12-03-2008

"The cheese is gone, someone came in and stole the cheese."

Buy Nothing Day as Advent Activism Against the Demon Mammon

Shane Claiborne 12-02-2008

As per usual, on Friday, we had all sorts of Buy Nothing Day festivities (check out the video here). But that's not what I want to talk about.

Elections and Christ the King

Rose Marie Berger 12-01-2008

The great wheel of the Christian liturgical year is turning once again.

Christmas Presence

Michaela Bruzzese 12-01-2008

Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary for December.

Re-Rooting Ourselves in God

Julie Polter 12-01-2008

Being vessels of that perfect love that casts out fear.

Make Something Money Can't Buy (Glue Gun Optional)

Julie Polter 11-19-2008

Acts of Advent

Rose Marie Berger 12-19-2007

During Advent, as I kindle the wreath candles that mark the journey to the Bethlehem stable, I return to particular writers that I love and certain music that I can't seem to get through the seasons without. I have Advent habits.

For instance, I often re-read W.H. Auden's For the Time Being. In one portion King Herod weighs the threat to publiic order posed by the birth of the Christ child. Is the collatoral damage of murdering the male children justified in order to maintain [...]