God in the darkness, God beyond our knowing,
Patient creator, seed in secret growing
Rock of living water ever flowing:
Come and renew us.

God in the darkness, God in all our grieving,
Friend of our tears, companion never leaving,
Drawing us past the limits of believing:
Come and renew us.

God in the darkness, God of holy dreaming,
Giver of hope, and pledge of our redeeming,
Spirit of truth, our memory and meaning;
Come and renew us. - Elizabeth J. Smith

Nicholas of Myra

Today is the feast day of Nicholas of Myra, whom we know as St. Nicholas. While there are many legends about Nicholas, there are few known facts. He was indeed Bishop of Myra, a city that was found in what is now Turkey. Most think he was born in Asia Minor in the 3rd century, and converted to Christianity at an early age. He came to the attention of the Bishop, and was ordained to the priesthood as a young man.

Apparently Nicholas received a large inheritance from his parents, and spent his life giving it away. Many legends abound about his giving, and the stories grew as his life continued. The most well known legend was that Nicholas gave three girls a secret gift of gold coins (some say they found them in their stockings when they awoke in the morning) so that they could marry and not be sold into prostitution.

With the coming of the Protestant reformation, veneration of the saints began to be suppressed in many countries of Europe. In those places, the stories of Nicholas evolved into secularized forms. Martin Luther replaced the festival of St. Nicholas on December 6 with a Christkind (Christ child) celebration on Christmas Eve. In many countries St. Nicholas became a jolly old elf wearing red who gave gifts to children; aka, Santa Claus.

How ironic that the secularization of St. Nicholas has, in its long history, produced a secularization of even the Christ-centered replacements for celebrating St. Nicholas’ feast day. Christkind, became a celebration with a pixie-like blond haired child who brought gifts. From his name came the term Kris Kringle, (from the words "Christ" and "Kind"). Now, Kris Kringle (christkind) and Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) are thought of as one. And one wonders if there will ever be room at the inn for the true Christ Child.

My vote is for the celebration of St. Nicholas day as a separate event from the High Holy Day of Christmas. But last I checked, I wasn’t in charge of the world, and that is a good thing.

O heavenly Word, eternal Light,
Begotten of the Father’s might,
Who in these latter days wast born
For blessing to a world forlorn;
Pour light upon us from above,
And fire our hearts with ardent love,
That, as we hear thy truth today,
All wrong desires may burn away;
And when, as judge, thou drawest nigh
The secrets of our hearts to try,
To recompense each hidden sin
And bid the saints their reign begin,
O let us not, for evil past,
Be driven from thy face at last,
But with thy saints forevermore
Behold thee, love thee, and adore.
- From Hymnal 1982 (63)

Debra’s Midweek Meditation

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Luke 1:78-79

This week's passage from Luke is known as Zachariah's song. These are the amazed words of a man who has been mute for a time. The first words he says, or sings, are a thanksgiving for God's grace in the birth of John (who becomes the Baptizer). A tradition in these songs of thanksgiving is to sing of the wonder of the Lord. The song becomes a liturgical response not just of a moment but of a history of salvation.

Advent, in the northern hemisphere, is a time of increasing darkness. In Alaska, where I grew up, the winter was a long night, interrupted with brief periods of sunlight each day.

An Alaskan night is illuminated by stars and moon and sometimes northern lights which shimmer off ice crystals and make a field of diamonds. This is not the deep darkness that Zachariah is referring to in Luke;
it is a night during which one hopes for moonlight and strains to see the colors of aurora borealis snake across the sky.
In Advent, I believe, we too are straining to see the new life that God is creating in a manger under a bright star.
It is God's mercy that leads our eyes toward the night sky.
It is God's grace that warms our hearts so that we might perceive the mirrored illumination of glory
-in the stars and the moon
-in the faces of those we love
-in hope being born for us each day
on our journey to worship the babe in the manger.

So-do not be afraid of the darkness, but seek the light is
waiting to be found.
It is Christ Jesus, the Lord!
Amen
Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

This Week at St. James:

Saturday: 9:00 Advent Quiet Day in the Meditation Chapel
Sunday: Liturgies at 8:00, 9:00, and 10:15; Sunday School at 10:15 – No HS Youth group
Tuesday: 12:30 Regional Clericus meets here; 7:30 Vestry meeting
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist in the Meditation Chapel; 9:30 Bible Study/Prayer Shawl ministry

Upcoming:
Sunday December 17th is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice. On this third Sunday of Advent, we light the pink candle, and rejoice in God’s gift to mankind in the coming of Christ. There are three events of note:
1. THINK PINK Youth event for Middle and High School Youth and their families at 10:15
2. Sunday School Brunch at 11:45
3. Come see The Nativity at Hunt Valley Cinemas. Show starts at 2:30. 1 hr. 40 minutes long. Meet at the theatre at 2:15.
4. Parish Caroling Party at the Minors’ home, 3529 Hess Road at 6 pm

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:
Pam; Dot; Sue; Ray; Andrew; Art W.
David; Don; Brittany; Jaedon Bill & Stacey; Owen
Nancy; Jason; Craig; Lagan Family; Becker Family
Phyllis U.

For those who are deployed and their families
For Laura and Lyle

Oh God, teach us to view time in the light of eternity,
And help us remember that no one of us knows how many
Or how few days may be given to us.
Keep us faithful disciples,
That when our Lord comes we may be found
Using wisely our time and talents, our life and strength;
For the honor and praise of his name. AMEN

In Closing:

The Advent wind begins to stir
With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir,
Its dark at breakfast, dark at tea,
And in between we only see
Clouds hurrying across the sky
And Rain-wet roads the wind blows dry
And branches bending to the gale
Against great skies all silver-pale.
The world seems traveling into space,
And traveling at a faster pace
Than in the leisured summer weather
When we and it sit out together,
For now we feel the world spin round
On some momentous journey bound –
Journey to what? To whom? To where?
The Advent bells call out "Prepare,
Your world is journeying to the birth
Of God made Man for us on earth."
- John Betjeman

May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from all sin, and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. AMEN.

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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