THIS SNOW THAT FALLS SO SILENTLY TONIGHT,

AS THOUGH THE EARTH HAD NO NEED OF SUCH A THING,

BY DAWN WILL WORK A MIRACLE IN WHITE,

IN CLEAN-CUT DISTANCES THESE WINTERS BRING.

NOW ALL THE LONELY LINES AGAINST THE SKY

OF FIELDS AND TREES LEFT BARREN HERE WILL GO,

SOFTLY TO DISAPPEAR AND SOFTLY LIE

UNDER THE BENEDICTION OF SNOW.

SO FALLS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN OUR YEAR;

TO CLEANSE THE WOUND AND HEAL THE BITTER SCAR,

AND STIR THE SOUL AND STILL THE DARKLING FEAR

WITH ANCIENT DREAMS THAT CANNOT BE – AND ARE.

OH, I HAVE SEEN A MIRACLE TONIGHT

OF WINTER SNOW AND SHINING CHRISTMAS LIGHT!

- WALDEM ARGROW

As this newsletter goes to press we are coming to the end of the Christian Year. The Christian Year almost dovetails with the secular year, but not quite. It begins with the season of Advent -- which begins, this year, the last Sunday in November. As Christians, we are called to orient our lives in such a way as we learn to make Christ the center more and more every day. Paying attention to the sacred calendar, keeping time in two ways - both sacred and secular - we remind ourselves that, while we live in two worlds, our real home is with God.

The Scripture texts that lead us to the end of the Christian year are apocalyptic in nature. That is to say, many of them speak in terms both poetic and fearsome about what our future with God will look like. They do not shy away from promises of both grace as well as judgment. We are made to understand by them that our life with God will heal us, and that God’s healing may hurt more than a little bit.

"SO FALLS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN OUR YEAR;

TO CLEANSE THE WOUND AND HEAL THE BITTER SCAR,

AND STIR THE SOUL AND STILL THE DARKLING FEAR

WITH ANCIENT DREAMS THAT CANNOT BE – AND ARE."

The Advent of Christ in our lives and in our world promises to both heal and judge us. It is pure grace. We will be changed, and that isn’t easy.

Blessings, Pastor Hilary