And a little child shall lead us....

Working with children for over 30 years always gives me a new appreciation for the "gifts" of life received during the holidays. When presented with the option of giving or recieving, it is such a delight to witness the joy on the faces of our little ones who understand the true meaning of doing for others.

This year, we had the opportunity as a preschool, to bake pumpkin pies for the community "Friday Free Lunch" program, in which those who are less fortunate can receive a hot meal each week free of charge. The children doned their chef hats, stirred, poured, and prayed over the pies before we placed them into the ovens. When the first pies were removed and ready to cool, those able to watch oohed and aahed over the finished product. As the children lined up to return to their classrooms, I overheard a three year old say to his classmates, "This will be the very best holiday ever for the people who can't go to the grocery store. I hope they like our pies and want us to bake something for them again. When can we help the people again Mrs. Deb?"

God provided the resources for those little hands who worked so very hard to give to the hungry.

May each be blessed with the gift of love through our Lord, Jesus this holiday season.

Deb Smoak
Madison Presbyterian Church Preschool

A new wreath tradition?

With inspiration from a friend of mine who is celebrating her first advent ever this year and making an advent wreath for her family, the boys and I had a little nature hike today and decided to collect some items to make our own wreath. We love our old Abbey Press candle circle (all the children of the world holding peace, joy, love, hope banners), but I wanted to do something for the season that would get us out to enjoy the majesty of a beautiful day and my favorite time of year.

It started innocently enough -- we were all excited that the crimson fall leaves are still around, the perfect color for a Christmas wreath (they managed to look like orange lillies in the finished masterpiece). Then God reminded me how he will keep me young with my energetic boys ALWAYS kicking it up a notch... they were, no-joke, 30 feet up a giant sycamore, risking limb and mom's sanity, dangling off branches to pull down strands of the glorious red-berry vines you see featured here.

All this is from the woods, except of course the candles.

Here's a prayer to kick off the lighting of the advent candles -- a beautiful tradition worth incorporating, to remember the Light of the World. -- Meg

A Rite for the Beginning of Advent at Home

The first day the wreath is in the home, the leader may say:

As our nights grow longer and our days grow short,
we look on these earthly signs--light and green branches--
and remember God's promise to our world:
Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.
Listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet:

The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those who lived in a land as dark as death
a light has dawned.
You have increased their joy
and given them gladness;
They rejoice in your presence
as those who rejoice at harvest,
as warriors exult when dividing spoil. Is. 9:1-2

Then as the first candle is lit, all pray:

O God,
rejoicing,
we remember the promise of your Son.
As the light from this candle,
may the bless of Christ come upon us,
brightening our way
and guiding us by his truth.
May Christ our Savior bring life
into the darkness of our world,
and to us, as we wait for his coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Sound the alarm -- advent is here!

It's late. And despite turkey tryptophan overload, I'm still eager. One hour until advent begins.

In the quiet of this dark house, I hear the raspy breathing of my dad as he sleeps, know my children are dreaming in their beds downstairs. Never one to make it to a sunrise, I'm chosing instead to savor the moonlight. And the gratitude of knowing that all these things are only thanks to God's tender love and devine mercy.

As Thanksgiving flows seamlessly into the countdown to Christ's birthday, I am thankful for all my blessings, all my challenges and all that makes my heart so full tonight and all through this season.

Wherever you are when you read this, I hope you can take just a minute to savor the silence and give thanks for whatever you find there. --Meg

(I'm also still eager to hear from you all! My neice Meghan, so sweet, so wise-beyond-her-years, is going to kick things off with this post-Thanksgiving reflection):

It's the day after Thanksgiving and already the houses in my neighborhood and around town are brightly lit, welcoming the Christmas season. It seems odd to me how so many people just want to get the season over with, stores start pushing the Christmas merchandise early, before Halloween in some cases. Even as young as I am, I admit that sometimes that's all I want to do, get the holiday over with, I normally begin Christmas shopping in September, or sometimes even earlier. But that's not what Christmas is about, Christmas is a time to be with family and friends, hanging out, singing Christmas carols, and most importantly, taking the time to remember what the season is really about. Taking the time to remember that Jesus was sent to earth as a baby so that one day, 33 years later, he could die on the cross for our sins so that we could live with him forever. Christmas is so commercialized these days that it's hard to remember that. But this Christmas season let's take time to remember what Christmas is all about. -- Meghan Johnston, age 16