Incorporating Advent into the Ritual

Some resources for marking the season

Greetings from the natural state’s Queen Wilhelmina State Park. I grew up a couple of hours from here in Texarkana, Texas, and my extended family gathers near here for Thanksgiving every year. I’m writing from an arm chair near a fireplace, looking out over the peaks and valleys surrounding Rich Mountain. It’s not along my beloved streetcar route in Kansas City, but it’ll do, I guess…….

If there’s ever any doubt I’m a church lady through and through, I’m reminded in November by my anticipation for Advent. I feel the same eagerness for the church’s new year as most do for the beginning of January. I start ambitiously working on goals and ideas for the new year, considering a multitude of practices that I somehow believe I will be able to incorporate flawlessly just because there is an external new beginning. This year, I’m trying a new thing called being realistic and have decided on a few things I can incorporate into what I’m already doing to mark the season.

I recently picked up the beautiful hardcover gift copy of All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss to incorporate into the bedtime reading I do with my children every night. Each day features a different wild animal and how it survives in the dark, cold winter months. “The animals show us in twenty-five different ways the deep mystery and abiding truth at the heart of the Christ story: The dark is not an end, but the way a new beginning comes.” I think I’m most excited about this of all our Advent practices this year.

I have long been curious about the ancient church practice of “praying the hours",” or pausing at set times throughout the day to pray. Depending on the tradition of follows, this could be anywhere from four to eight times per day. I love the idea that during these pauses I’d be praying alongside Christians across the world who are also pausing to pray at that time, and I’m joining with the cloud of witnesses gone before me who also prayed at these times. Rather than strive for perfection, I plan be realistic (remember?) and do my best to pause as and when I can, taking time to notice and wonder about rhythms that end up working for me. The Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer has liturgies to follow for Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline (bedtime) Prayer. I use them intermittently throughout the week already and find them very meaningful! But remember, I love novelty, so I was really excited to find this book by Phyllis Tickle with prayers for Advent through Epiphany at those same four times per day.

Each time of prayer includes scripture readings, psalms, and prayers fitting for the season and time of day. Morning Prayer is advised to pray between 6-9am, the midday office is meant to be prayed sometime between 11am-2pm, the afternoon office (or Vespers) is for 5-8pm, and compline is meant to be prayed just before going to sleep. Each prayer probably takes less than 10 minutes, and I’m thinking of trying to habit stack them with my meals in the first instance and seeing how that goes. Mary Oliver says “attention is the beginning of devotion,” and I’m eager to see what stirs within me by orienting my attention in prayer during these daily pauses.

I’m taking another class for my Anglican Studies certificate this month, so I might as well incorporate those assignments into the ritual. I’ve started reading Rufugia Faith by Debra Rienstra, and I plan to choose a final paper topic that aligns with some of the themes I hope to explore in this new, church year. The church year in which, God willing and the people consent, I will be ordained a priest! What’s that saying… begin as you intend to go on? That’s the goal.

We also try to mark the seasonal change on the winter solstice each year. I’m currently looking at some of our local nature conservatories and parks for themed walks that we can take on December 21st with flashlights and hot chocolate in hand. Last year we had a candlelit dinner which should be simple enough to replicate again this year.

Finally, I keep a rota of Advent themed playlists and albums to play throughout the day at my desk and at home. I love choral playlists but there are a few modern ones I like too. Here’s what I’ve got saved on Spotify and return to year after year:

I hope some of these ideas are helpful to you if you are still considering what Advent practices you might adopt this year. Take what you need and leave the rest! If I can offer any guidance or support for your Advent, whether this is your first year or your 20th, I’d be happy to try and help. If you’ve already got plans in place, I’d love to know what they are!

And if this is a year when you need to burrow in and let the fuss of Advent pass you by, that sounds like a good Advent practice to me, too. Take heart, friend. The light will return. It always does.

May your Advent be exactly what you need it to be.

A Blessing for Advent

Whether you are weary or at peace
feeling fractured or whole
believing or doubting

May you know the presence of Christ
in your home, your vocation, and your body
And, too, that God’s promise is fulfilled in you

This Advent, may you know
God calls you to rest and remember
and to receive the gift of God with you

Hold to the promise that
God sanctifies your vocation
and calls you good, wholly.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore.

With love,
Janette