Welcome to Toward Christmas, the Advent Blog of Four Parts Hope,

I can hardly believe that it’s the end of November already, yet, here we are! I’ve been looking back through past years and discovered that this is the 10th time I have written my way through Advent.  Clearly it’s a ‘tradition’ for me. I’m going to go and celebrate with some Christmas Cake — yes, I’m one of those who like it.

This coming Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent, which marks the New Year from a Liturgical perspective.  This is perhaps why I am drawn to Advent.  It’s an invitation to review, reflect and reach toward Christmas and the New Year.  So I invite you also to:

Prepare to release.

At the end, let go; ready

to begin again.

© 2017 – Laurel Archer

Tomorrow, December 1st, the countdown begins, using the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is a liturgical ‘tool’ to help guide and direct spiritual reflection.  Each day leading up to Advent, we will consider one Bible story, or character, beginning from creation, following chronologically (more or less) right up until the birth of Jesus. It’s a way to review the wide sweep of God’s pursuit of humankind.

These posts will be brief, short poems that touch on the Bible story inviting you to consider it again.  In this way we will tune our hearts to welcome Jesus, not just as a story, but as Immanuel, God with us.

So, as always, you are welcome here.  Once again, I’ve asked some creative friends to share the writing responsibilities with me.  I’m always deeply encouraged by working creatively with others and I hope that what we post this year will find connection and resonance with you.

May you each have a blessed Advent,
Laurel

PS – please note the posts highlighted in the featured section of the blog are last year’s Advent series.

Photo credit – Laurel Archer, Rose hips, Nicomekl floodplain