7 Quick Takes Friday

It's December!! And you know what that means???

**1**
It's time for ADVENT! (Bet you thought I was going to say Christmas didn't you?) I love sacred seasons throughout the church year. I was one of those nerdy kids who got super excited when I had memorized all the seasons in a church year and the corresponding colors that went with them. Advent began last Sunday, and in addition to celebrating at church each week, Charles and I are attempting to create a sacred space in our day to be still and acknowledge that for Christians, Christmas is a season of waiting and preparing, not just a day of chaos and excitement. We have an advent wreath that my friend Jenn and I made last weekend (it's not the best, but it'll work for this year!) and we ordered a book of Advent readings that we're trying to do each evening as we light a candle. This may or may not be a tradition that continues for us, we're just playing with how to create some sacred traditions within our family and this is the first one we're attempting.

**2**
Can I admit one of my pet peeves of the holiday season? I really hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I've been really thinking about this all week. I love when churches decorate sanctuaries for a holiday season, it's fun, festive, bright, and colorful. None of which are bad things. But I have to be honest, I walked into church last week and thought for a moment that Christmas had exploded. It was beautiful, but there was so much red, green, and white twinkle lights that I didn't know where to look first. This in and of itself is not what I have an issue with. My problem is that it doesn't look like advent. Apparently we skipped advent and it's Christmas day already. There's no purple or blue (the colors of Advent, red and green have nothing to do with the Christmas season in the liturgical calendar, they are the colors of Pentecost and the "Ordinary time" which are in May/June) or solemnity at all, nothing about it makes me want to prepare, wait, repent, or watch for Jesus. It makes me want to go Christmas shopping and put my own red velvet bows on packages. I glanced over to the side where our communion table always sits during worship and the big open bible and communion elements were gone. In their place was a gigantic pyramid of poinsettias atop the communion table. The elements that point us to Jesus were almost hidden behind a pillar way off to the side, out of the way of the Christmas decorations. I realize the decorating committee was just told to go for it, but Chuck and I were talking on the way home, what would it look like as a pastor, to actually give guidance to those faithful volunteers who want to help decorate and talk to them for a few minutes about the things we communicate theologically by how we structure and adorn our worship space? Just something I've been thinking about this week--yes we had an advent wreath, which is great, but honestly, I could be okay with waiting a few more weeks for the giant red velvet bows to adorn the altar.

**3**
Speaking of Advent...I was given the opportunity to guest preach at the church of my preaching professor this Sunday. He is their regular preacher, but is out of town, so he asked if I would fill the pulpit. I said yes, he said pick whatever I wanted to preach on, and I said "okay, I'll do Mary's Magnificat, that's a good advent text!" What was I thinking?? It's Friday and I have NO idea what I'm going to do with this text for this Sunday! I've got some interesting research, but gosh this is a tough text to preach! So that's what I'm doing all day today...wish me luck!

**4**
Today is a very special birthday! Bethie is 3! My good friend Jean called me in the middle of the night 3 years ago to wake me up and tell me she had a little girl! I can't believe how fast she is growing up and what a precious little girl she is! Happy Birthday beautiful girl! I hope you know how many people love you!!
**5**
My honey has one more week of school before he will get a much needed break! He's down to having one sermon left to preach (which he has written, he just needs to practice) and two papers. I'm very excited he will get to go camping/surfing for a night next weekend with the boys to celebrate being done, he deserves it! And I will get to use that night to watch a ridiculous number of movies while finishing Christmas gifts :) He's worked so hard this quarter and has learned so much that is transforming him into the amazing man of God he is becoming more and more each day. I am really proud of him! And another congratulatory shout out to another special man in my life! My dad's down to his last test for this quarter and then he gets to be on Christmas break too! I have no idea how he's taken a full load and worked full time, but he's on his way to being a great Nurse Practitioner. Congrats Dad! Can't wait to see you! (And his reward is getting to hold his granddaughter for three full weeks--at least until Auntie Sarah gets there and gives him some competition for her!)

**6**
I am still loving my monthly menu plan. It has been SO easy to do meals this month. The ingredients are already in my cupboards, it's all planned out so I have no need to worry about what I can make with what I have in the fridge--it's been great! I'd highly recommend it if anyone finds meal times stressful in your homes!

**7**
My quarter of working with two preaching groups is over. I've loved getting the chance to listen to 4 sermons a week, offer feedback, guide discussion about the sermons, and see people grow. It's been a great job, and perhaps there will be a chance to do the same thing next quarter, but if not, it was truly an honor to get to experience the word of God delivered in many ways.