Holding a Child.

I'm fairly conservative about my church services. If the priest is not properly vested, I tend to notice and be vexed by that. I like my mass High Church, will bells, incense and chanting. So you can imagine the difficulty I have attending different denominations. This past week I had the distinct and honored pleasure of attending church with my Sifu. It wasn't quite what I expected, but I must admit that I was inspired during the service in a way I feel inspired to share with all of you now.

When Sifu invited me to come to church with him, I readily agreed, and didn't bother to ask any questions as to what kind of church he attended, or the nature of the service. When such an esteemed master requests your presence, you don't ask alot of questions, you simply go. I arrived early, as I often do, to pray the Rosary before the service. There was a band warming up, with a drum set and guitars and everything. I noted the contemporary nature of the service, and though it was very different from what I was used to, and I assured myself that I'd be fine during the service. Well, that was until a gentleman took the microphone from the pulpit and began to yell at the congregation. Not angrily, but in an excited "let's get this party started" kind of way. This church wasn't just contemporary, it was full blown Charismatic. It turned out to be a fortunate thing that Sifu was late, because if he had been there, I'd have likely jumped clear into his lap. To say I was tense would be the vast understatement of the year. I've been more relaxed in dentist chairs than I was in that pew at that moment.

Sifu arrived a few minutes later to find me hiding in the farthest seat of the back pew. He waved for me to follow him as he made his way up the aisle closer towards the middle. I could have killed him. His lovely wife and baby girl were with him, and I was thankful to have a bit of a group to hide amongst. "Christ-fest 2005" continued at the front of the church, and Sifu clapped and whistled some while I stood next to him with all the mobility of a frozen board, only to have my eyes flash open wide when a woman began speaking in tongues to our left. If I had been knocked over for any reason, I'd have likely shattered like an ice sculpture.

After a few minutes, his baby worked her way down from her mother's arms to her father's and into mine. She spent a long while playing with my saints medals, my rosary as well as tugging on my cheeks and earring. It was while holding her that the tension began to melt from me. As a watched her play and coo and smile up at me with a grin like starlight, I began to wonder if this is how Joseph must have felt when he first held Mary's son. There was the child as beautiful as anything on Earth, who, though not his own, was as dear and precious as if it were.

As I continued to watch that amazing child play with my cross, she gave me a sense of serenity that no one else could have in that moment. And it was in that quiet moment, amidst all the background sounds of praise, that I felt the Spirit. And though that is not my particular style of worship, He was still there for those who need that particular medium. Sifu eventually took his daughter back, and though I hated to let her go, I finally felt a sense of peace. That is, until Sifu mentioned something about snakes. (He was of course joking... I hope.) But still, amidst a tense situation, I'd found a spirit of peace in the eyes of a little girl who couldn't even walk yet, and that's something I'll never forget.

Let us look with joy towards the coming feast of the birth of the Child who is the giver of all peace. Amen.

Riley

On the Season of Advent.

Advent was something that I'd never heard of until I joined the Episcopal Church. As a Baptist, there had always been a great emphasis on Christmas, but Advent was something that wasn't really familiar. The beginning of the liturgical church year, Advent is a semi-penitential time in which we remember Christ's coming when he was born in Bethlehem, and look forward to his future Second Coming.

Advent lasts for the four Sundays before Christmas. In most churches and many homes, Advent wreaths are used to mark the days and symbolize different themes for each week. The wreath is composed of four or five candles, three purple, one rose and one optional white. The three colored candles form a circle and the white sits in the center. The weeks for advent go as follows:

Week one: purple candle- Hope
Week two: purple candle- Love
Week three: rose candle- Joy
Week four: purple candle- Peace
Christmas day: white candle- Christ

Each week we focus on a particular Christian virtue, and meditate upon it, thereby preparing ourselves spiritually for the coming Holy day. Advent was once a penitential season, leading up to the High Holy day of Christmas (similar as Lent is to Easter). This has become less common in recent times, when the season has taken on a bittersweet mixture of joy and penance. But whether it is observed with joy or solemnity, the air of expectancy is always present.

Since I first learned about Advent, it has become one of my favorite times of the Liturgical year. With all the anticipation and joy of a coming Child and the triumphant returning of the King, it is a promising time of renewal and refocus of our Christian walk. I pray that you all may find refreshment in your daily lives as the time of Christ's Advent draws nearer. Amen.

Riley