I thoroughly enjoy retirement and I'm grateful for the ministerial opportunities that are still mine - especially preaching on Sundays and writing my blog. Still... there are things I miss about being a pastor - and the Advent season never fails to stir some warm memories of times past...
I miss having a church to "dress" for the Advent season... I miss the company of the women and men who worked so hard to make our worship space a sanctuary for Advent prayer and reflection... I miss putting together the Advent wreath and inviting people at each weekend mass to come forward and light the candles... I miss singing Advent Evening Prayer in a candle lit church on Sunday nights... I miss going to the local florist to buy some roses and baby's breath to add to the wreath on the Third Sunday of Advent - and inviting folks at Evening Prayer that night to take home a rose with them. I miss the wreaths on the church doors and around the sanctuary and the garlands accenting the choir loft and ambo - all studded with purple bows...
Yes, I miss so many things but I'm grateful, oh, so grateful, for memories like the ones above, the photo of the Advent wreath and the recording like the one below: all souvenirs of grace -filled years spent in Concord with God's people in prayer, waiting and preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ...
Praise God from whom all Advent blessings flow!
An Advent Blessing: composed by Jan Michael Joncas and Alan Hommerding; sung by Concord Pastor and the people of Holy Family Parish, Concord
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