Unthinkable

The angelic body bowed low

in adoration

Before the woman soon-to-be-

with child.

"Blessed," he called her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Chosen," was his answer.

He waited. She wondered.

"How? Not now," she said.

"God changes time," said

the messenger.

"A son but no husband?

A mother before

being a

wife?"

"Impossible!" she pro-

tested.

"Exactly," he smiled.

Jo-Ann Iannotti, OP

Waiting

Have you been to a shopping mall lately? The malls are filled with holiday festivity, providing an environment that quickly transports us from Thanksgiving to Christmas. When we go to the mall to shop, we accept the consequences of waiting on long lines. We wait—and the waiting might be a calm, resigned wait or a stressful one.

Waiting with patience is really a sign of this season which the Christian church calls Advent. We wait with joyful expectation for something good to happen and for someone special to come into our midst.

There are no long lines or impatience in this kind of waiting. In fact, sometimes the waiting is done quietly, with reflection and prayer. Even in the natural world, we wait for the dawn of light because the darkness comes so early. Now, we wait for Christ to come again and show himself in our midst.

Let us be awakened as we wait, and in this awakening may we recognize the signs of ope, light, and of God among us.

Rosemarie Greco, DW

Advent Lessons and Carols

On Sunday, December 5, Advent Lessons and Carols at St Michael’s Parish, Litchfield, CT was an inspiring experience of community and worship. As a preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ, this service of Christian worship, which dates back to the late 19th century, invited the community to focus on the meaning of Christmas. Scripture readings from Genesis, the Prophets and the Gospels were interwoven with hymns and medieval carols.

The service of Lessons and Carols at St. Michael’s Church was led by Music Director Dr. Marguerite Mullee and Rector Rev.M. Jennings Matheson with organist Susan Theodos and St Michael’s Choir and Readers. The ministry of music during this service was spiritually healing and renewing. It was a perfect example of music nourishing faith.

For readings and a format for Advent Lessons and Carols, visit www.usccb.org/advent/lessons.shtml .

Saturday, December 11 at 8 pm, Handel’s Messiah will be performed at St Michael’s Parish. For information contact the parish at 860-567-9465 or visit http://www.stmichaels-litchfield.org/

Responding to the Cycles of the Seasons

"Consider the way many plants respond to the cycles of the seasons. They shed their leaves to withstand the cold, and grow a new set when the sun and warmth return. They meet severe requirements with convertibility." (Moshe Safdie)

Bringing Opposites into Harmony

Bringing opposites into harmony seems to be one of the challenges of this winter season.

Over the years we learned how to respond and balance nature's challenges.

Winter brings us cold weather and so we light our fireplaces or turn up the heat in our homes.

Winter brings us long nights and we respond by decorating our buildings with lights.

The trees outside are bare and so we surround ourselves with blossoming plants and evergreens.

It may seem like life is nowhere to be found but instinctively, we know how to bring forth light where there seems to be none.

In the harmonizing of opposites we find peace.

In the apparent absence of light we find signs of hope.

And after all, isn't that what this season is about?

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace.

May people of peace bring you hope.