This hymn, number 235 in the 1940 Hymnal is how I learned the seasons of the church year. It is omitted in the 1982 hymnal, which makes me sad. I guess it isn't deemed "musical quality" or whatever rules were used in determining which hymns were in, which were out.

It doesn't matter, for it is a hymn I committed to heart so many years ago. It is a hymn that each year about this time, rises to the top of my memory and I find myself humming it daily as I prepare to "flip the calendar" to Advent. 

Yes, in just 11 days, November 27, we will bless the Advent wreath and light the first candle of the season. 

Already, for many, our calendars are filling up with "things to do, things to see, preparations for visitors, company, travel, parties, concerts." Already, some of us can feel overwhelmed by the next six weeks and exhaustion begins to rear its head and we look longingly to January and rest.

I want to encourage each of us, in these next few days, as things begin to "gear up," that no matter how much you may enjoy the busyness of this wonderful time, you schedule in NOW a time of daily Advent quiet; a time of daily Advent reflection and prayer; a time to sit daily and ponder what it means for us to hear the stories of God coming into the world, into our lives in a new way. Oh, yes, Jesus the Bethlehem babe was born over 2000 years ago, but Jesus the Risen Christ is being born each day in the hearts of the beloved children of God. That is the hope of the world.  

Write a daily time into your paper calendar; tap in a daily time in your phone calendar. Make a daily Advent time a part of your season of preparation as important as all the other things to be done to make for a joyous Christmas. 

Here are some suggestions to help:
- Buy or go online and find a daily Advent calendar, preferably one that gives you a word or scripture quotation.
- Sign up to receive the Daily Advent Word. https://adventword.org/
- Use Forward Day by Day as your guide. You can get the daily readings online or by picking up a devotional book at church. 
- One of my favorites over the years is Orbis Books "Waiting for the Light." It is a collection of spiritual readings from authors across the ages. 
- Take home a Sunday bulletin and read the readings each day for the following week. Pray the collect as your daily prayer. 
- Make/buy an Advent wreath to use in your home daily. A quiet 15 minutes each day, pondering the wonders of God, is priceless.
- Rediscover something from your childhood that helped you prepare then for the coming of the ChristChild. Be a child again. 

It is a holy season we are about to enter. I hope that the holiness will not be obscured by the busyness.

A blessed Advent season to each of you, blessed and beloved child of God. 
Blessings on this lovely day and let's stay in touch,
Betty+  

Odds and Ends:

Please put on your calendar now... 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 30. We will have our quarterly "Stuffing Party" for our Soup Kitchen newsletter. Come when you can, leave when you need to. Many hands will get the work done. 

It's that time...bring in toilet paper for the Gospel Rescue Mission! Thanks to all who contribute. 

Did you know that all of our various meetings are open meetings? Check out the schedule each week and see if there is a ministry God is calling you to consider. Check the weekly calendar and come and see! 

Hospitality is a trademark of St. Barnabas, so it is understandable that your help is needed to show our hospitality for the various activities we are hosting during Advent. You can sign up on Sunday in the Narthex (entry) or email Vestry member Tara Rich. These are our current needs:
1) Chair/co-chair for Soup Brunch on December 4 following our outreach project of "No tie" blankets. 
2) 3 people to make soup for the December 4 brunch.
3) 2 people to make soup for the December 11 brunch following our outreach project of "No tie" blankets. (We already haeve the co-chairs and one soup maker.) 
4) Chair/co-chair for the reception after the Cantata Choir concert on Saturday, December 10 at 7 pm.
5) Chair/co-chair for the reception after our annual Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 18 at 5 p.m. 
Thank you in advance for helping to be hospitable here at St. Barnabas!

Our Fall Bible Study on "Miracles" concludes tomorrow, Thursday, November 17 at 12 noon in the Treadwell Room and there’s still a place for you at the table. We will discuss 3 miracles of the apostles as found in Acts: Peter heals the lame man (Acts 3:7-11); Ananias heals Saul's blindness (Acts 9:17-18); and Peter raises Dorcus from the dead (Acts 9:39-42.)  Please read in preparation for our class discussion.

Enjoy the photos on our Instagram account of our new green vestments. Follow us and stay up to date with St. Barnabas!