angels we have made in the snow

I love snow angels.

I love making snow angels.

I hear I'll have the chance after tomorrow's snow, too.

Here's one from a retreat a few years ago:

snow angel, long retreat in Duxbury, MA

But the one that is brightening my evening is from The New Yorker. Perhaps you've seen it, but in case you haven't, I'm sharing.

Pope Francis making a snow angel
New Yorker cover, December 23 & 30, 2013

Thank you to the Huffington Post for posting it, along with the following:

Much has been written about Pope Francis' humble personality, but the image of him on the cover of this week's New Yorker perfectly captures the Pontiff's joyful nature...

The pope's recent apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium raised eyebrows with its condemnation of capitalist culture which promotes an "idolatry of money," but the document as a whole is about the exultation to be found in God. Evangelii Gaudium literally means "The Joy of the Gospel," and the first line says, "The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus."

What could be more appropriate in this season of Advent?

Joy to the world, and to you all, too, as we await the coming of the Savior.  Gloria in excelsis Deo.

snowy grey beauty

A dark, snowy afternoon has its own beauty...

 the end of Harden Hill Road looking onto Duxbury Bay

snowy rowboat, snowy cove

dock and sea grass through falling snow

low tide with snow on the sea grass shelf

snow on holly bush

trees outlined in snow against the greys of Duxbury Bay and sky

The geese have headed out!

goose tracks in the snow

...and its own birds.

chilly, puffed out sparrow in falling snow

Canadian geese on the frozen mud flats, low tide Duxbury Bay

Canadian geese taking off

Canadian geese in flight

Canadian geese flying, long line

two sparrows and a junco, Bonnie Cabin steps

bluebird, snowy branches

Little advents of God are all around us.

an Advent prayer

Advent II at SSM Duxbury

AN ADVENT PRAYER   RICHARD BAXTER (1691)

 Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth, in a daily serious seeking after thee, and in a believing affectionate walking with thee; that, when thou comest, we may be found not hiding our talent, nor serving our flesh, nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished, but longing and waiting for our glorious God for ever and ever. Amen.

first posted at http://lovebloomsbright.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/an-advent-prayer/

Advent Lessons and Carols tomorrow!

For more information about upcoming events:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Upcoming-Events-at-St--Margaret-s-Duxbury.html?soid=1101918735839&aid=otgAdq1fzHE

Introduction to Advent with Tim Schenck

Emptiness - Advent

What if the emptiness were one of
expectancy? Of hope and anticipation?
Of leaving room to be filled?

Not all emptiness is the same.
Wide open places of the heart
Bleak spaces, cold and desolate
Space for innumerable stars to shine in the night
Space between buildings in a blizzard
A crib, empty, waiting for an expected child
A crib, empty, after the slaughter of innocents

Which is this emptiness?
May I choose?
I do choose emptiness, after all.
An emptiness of the night sky just before
     the stars appear
An emptiness like the inside of a flute
     – the reed of God, Caryll calls Mary –
     so too for me?

I will leave room.
I will wait.
The filling is not up to me.
It will come.

The night ahead catches its breath
then settles into a peaceful longing
which is in itself part of the hoped-for,
long-anticipated gift.

originally posted at http://lovebloomsbright.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/emptiness-advent/

sarahssm | December 3

Te Lucis Ante Terminum

A setting of one of the traditional Compline hymns for you tonight:




If you would like to sing it as part of your own worship, here is one of the English translations and the music:

To thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That, with thy wonted favor, thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.

Thanks to chantblog for this. To read more:
http://chantblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-hymns-at-lesser-hours-compline-i.html


For a more modern translation of this Compline hymn, see The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church). For the music that accompanies this modern translation:

https://www.churchpublishing.org/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=productDetail&productID=82