​​​​​​​​Happy New (Liturgical)Year!

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December brings us into the start of a new cycle of readings, this time through the Gospel according to Luke (who also is credited with writing the book of the

Acts of the Apostles). 

We enter a new year at the darkest part, just as in Genesis, we read that “it was evening, and it was morning, one day,” and time begins in the dark. Creation began in the dark. Life begins in the dark of the womb. When the business of the day has ended and we are left with only our thoughts to keep us up at night, our concerns and dreams can be clarified in the dark.

Stars are visible in the night sky because it is dark!

When I was recently reading a book called “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, it mentioned that winter was the best time to travel to freedom, because the nights were longer, the cover of darkness and the clarity of the stars made it easier to get farther, despite the cold. 

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Our lectionary readings this month are translated by a team of Rabbis and other Hebrew language scholars in addition to Greek Biblical scholars, and compiled by

Rev. Dr. Wilda C. Gafney, professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, TX. They may appear unfamiliar at first, even though they are from the same Christian Scriptures we have always been using. Hebrew and Greek, the older Biblical languages, don’t always have direct English parallels, and we so often miss the richness of those languages when relying

only on English. 

We will hear, in this Advent season, a wider variety of names and titles for God. We will hear, in this Advent season, more feminine imagery. I encourage you to take it in as poetry and let yourself feel however you feel about it, with curiosity. Once we reach Christmas, we will return to the Sundays and Seasons’ NRSV translation which may sound more familiar to our ears!

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It is my hope, that as with a multi-faceted diamond, the variety of translation possibilities may find their way into reflecting more of the beauty of the Scriptures to us during this darkening season. Scripture is such a rich and lovely gift, for encouragement and devotion as much as for guidance! May you find enrichment in our sharing time together this Advent!

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​​​​​Grace  & Peace,

Pastor Andrew