The third Sunday of Advent, December 12, presents a special opportunity for beauty and reflection. At 9am worship, a string quartet will provide a tapestry of evocative music by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo. Unique readings and prophetic words will round out a stirring journey in worship.

At 7pm and 9pm on Christmas Eve, Isthmus Brass – Wisconsin’s premiere large brass ensemble – will add festivity, fanfare, and fabulousness to our celebration of the birth of Christ. These services will also include the traditional singing of Silent Night in the glow of hundreds of candles. Join us in finding the quiet places and the resplendent heights that the story of Christmas brings.

The word “journey” has its origins in Latin and French, having long ago meant “daily” or “by day.” It referred to a short period of time – just a day’s work or travel. Today we think about journeys as travels that take a long time or take us over great distances. We also speak, figuratively, of how navigating life’s challenging and changing circumstances are journeys – often spiritual ones. Journey also shares the root of the word “journal,” a diary in which we make daily entries, to record the details of a day’s work, travel, or life.

This year’s Advent calendar invites you to journey this season in a spirit of the older sense of the word. To take the season day-by-day, trying to not miss what each day might hold while eagerly reaching for Christmas. Along the way you’ll find “breath prayers,” phrases from the week’s scripture, divided into two parts – one part to be prayed on a deep in-breath, the other to be prayed on a slow out-breath. Breath prayers can bring you into an awareness of God’s presence, right in that very moment.

We hope the calendar will be both map and journal, guiding you through the season of days and encouraging your attention to each one, so that the gifts of the journey will be yours in abundance. Such beautiful gifts to then offer the Christ-child at Christmas!