| Sisters and Brothers in Christ, While winter does not officially arrive for a little over a month, I certainly had a preview Sunday morning driving to Calvary. Living at the Cathedral Domain, in Lee County, the day began with defrosting the car windows followed by flurries much of the way here. As I was leaving Estill County, there was a brief period of sleet and freezing rain. For the most part, though the roads were mostly dry. I am not a great fan of the cold and snow, and neither am I of the heat I often experienced during the summers living in South Carolina, but I cannot imagine living somewhere where there seem to be no seasons. I like the change. So too with the church year. As our season of Pentecost draws to a close, like the changing color of the leaves, so too do we change colors in the church. With this next Sunday being Christ the King Sunday, gone are our green hangings and vestments. On November twenty-seventh, we enter the season of Advent and will switch to purple/violet, or for those churches who can afford the expense, blue. Growing up, Advent was always viewed like Lent, a season of penitence often referred to as “little Lent or winter Lent.” Lent, that time to search our hearts, confess our sins, fast and pray in preparation for Easter, Advent was similarly seen as a season to prepare ourselves, but for the coming of the Christ child and the second coming of Christ to judge the world. Just as the understanding of Advent has changed over the centuries, so too the customs practiced have changed, even within individual congregations. In some, we refrain from using the word “alleluia”, and our gospel readings often seem out of order. The first Sunday of Advent is thought of as the beginning of a new church year and so on November twenty-seventh, this year we enter Year A and will use Matthew each Sunday during the season. Our first reading will be Matthew 24: 36-44 and we will hear of the coming of the “end time.” The following Sunday (Matthew 3:1-12) will find usjumping back to John the Baptist telling of the coming of the Messiah. On our third Sunday of Advent (Matthew 11: 2-11), we will find John in prison sending his disciples to ask if Jesus is the “one to come” or are they to wait for another. We end our last Sunday (Matthew 1: 18-25) with the announcement of the coming birth of Jesus to Joseph. Hence, our themes of the coming judgement of the world and the great news of the coming birth of Jesus. In the prayer book invitation to Lent, we say; “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent.” I offer a similar invitation to you, that we all may find ourselves invited and participating in observing a holy Advent. Peace,Bryant+ Please noteNO Confirmation and Inquirer’s classes on NOVEMBER 20! |
| We welcome The Reverand Canon Amy Chambers Cortright this Sunday! |
