Night of Pause, Waiting in Joyful Hope
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When
Monday, Dec. 21, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. -
Program
Seasonal -
Location
Description
Monday, Dec. 21, 2009
"Advent is a season when we pray for God's coming among us, with an audacity that borders on the absurd. God, coming here and now?
It all seems a most unlikely expectation, now as 'then' in a forlorn corner of the Roman Empire, Bethlehem.
What is it this season reminds us of, in its call to watch and wait, to keep vigil? What does it mean, in Advent, that we find ourselves as a people shaped by the hope of this may-be-coming?
It means at least this: Advent invites us to discover once again that primal posture of receptivity, to open our hearts and minds to a coming we cannot know how to expect -- and one that may interrupt us inconveniently, as happened to the simple shepherds in the ancient story we will hear once again this year.
Keeping vigil?
Waiting and listening for God's be-coming among us? Could we find a posture of heart more out of keeping with the frenzy of this season, more counter-cultural than this?
But perhaps this is precisely the point."*
*Mark S. Burrows, professor of the History of Christianity and Theologian-in-Residence at Old South Church, Boston, Gracenotes, a biweekly blog from the Andover Newton Faculty. Friday, Dec. 7, 2007.
You are invited to risk a moment of quiet this Advent, and join us at Old St. Patrick's Church on Monday, Dec. 21 to wait, listen, and feel God's presence together at our Advent Night of Pause and Prayer.
Schedule
5:30 p.m.
Church doors open, the church is available for silent prayer, reflection, and thought.
7 - 8:30 p.m.
The silence in the church will be interspersed with invitations to participate in gently guided meditations.
8:30 p.m. - Midnight
Embrace the quiet in silent vigil.
You are welcome to come whenever you can, and stay for as long or short a time as you wish.
