Advent – The Rev. Beverly Patterson

2 Advent 2022

It is about 700 BC. The magnificent tree called Israel that had sprung from the root of Jesse, father of King David is dying. Civil war has split the tree like a bolt of lightning and the Assyrian invaders have hacked down the larger half, cut it into a thousand pieces and scattered it toContinue reading “2 Advent 2022”

1 Advent 2022

As we hear the scripture readings for today, the first Sunday of Advent in Year A, the first cycle of the church lectionary, we are reminded that Advent is both a time of joyful anticipation and a time of diligent preparation. The reading from Isaiah is a call to anticipate the glory of the comingContinue reading “1 Advent 2022”

4 Advent 2021

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” We jump around a bit in Luke during Advent. Last week John the Baptist was an adultContinue reading “4 Advent 2021”

3 Advent 2021

“Sing aloud…rejoice and exult” (Zephaniah 3: 14-15). “Surely it is God who saves us.” (Isaiah 12:2). “Rejoice in the Lord always.” (Philippians 4:4) “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7) What? This morning’s readings sound a bit like one of those SAT questions, “Which of theContinue reading “3 Advent 2021”

2 Advent 2021

I have a little book called “The Bishop is Coming!” (Paul V. Marshall). It contains among other things check lists of all those things you need to know to have the bishop’s visit go smoothly, for everyone to look and feel like they know what they are doing, and to make the visit special andContinue reading “2 Advent 2021”

Advent 1 2021

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. (T.S. Eliot Little Gidding sec. V) And so is Advent. Advent is a new beginning, a new liturgical year, a new gospel to explore, the anticipation of the birthContinue reading “Advent 1 2021”

4 Advent 2020

We have heard the story of the Annunciation so many times, and seen it in art work, and sung about it in hymns to the point that all we hear is the Hallmark version of a sweet Christmas story. The truth of the story is much more suspenseful, and frightening, and full of courage andContinue reading “4 Advent 2020”

2 Advent 2020

At Halloween it is fun to watch the little kids all dressed up. Many of them chose some iconic character from movies or cartoons. It changes every year as new characters are created and others are forgotten, but some seem to be timeless. You do not have to ask who they are if they areContinue reading “2 Advent 2020”

1 Advent 2020

There is a popular old film, often shown at this time of the year called “Meet Me in St. Louis.” It tells of the ups and downs of a middle-class family. Toward the end of the movie, the father decides, just before Christmas, that it is in the best interest of the family to moveContinue reading “1 Advent 2020”