Advent is Coming.
First off, I wanted to say how joyful it was to celebrate the baptisms of two beautiful new members of the Body of Christ this past Sunday; congratulations and welcome to Grace and Bennett!
Next, I can hardily believe it, but we are midway through November and that means that Advent is just around the corner! The last Sunday of the Church Year is 11/24, the Feast of Christ the King, at which we’ll have another baptism, Jack Simms! And then the first Sunday of Advent is 12/1.
I hope that you will take some time the next few weeks to intentionally think about how you will observe this coming season of Advent. Yes, it is one of the shortest seasons of the yea, just a little over three weeks long, but it is an important one that helps prepare us for Christmas.
Personally, I have found it to be one of the more powerful seasons, of the Church Year, but it can only have that ability to make an impact on us, if we prepare ourselves to celebrate it, otherwise the prevailing winds of the surrounding culture can all too easily sweep us away.
Advent is one of these preparatory seasons, and so like it’s bigger sibling Lent, the best way to enter into the season is through some form of praying and fasting. In terms of praying, there are all sorts of different options out there, which I’ve written about before. If you are looking for some assistance, I’m happy to talk with you.
In terms of fasting, yes that can mean physically fasting from food and drink. Just like Lent, you could decide to give up some particular food or beverage. But it can also mean fasting from consuming other things like television, the news, and social media. When you fast, especially from things like that you then open up time and space in your day to spend some additional time in prayer.
So I hope that you’ll prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to fully enter this coming season of Advent. Again, if you’d like any help in thinking things through, that is why I am here!
Lastly, I hope you’ll mark down your calendars the following dates which are coming up soon!
Advent Lessons and Carols - 12/8 at 4:00 PM
Youth Christmas Pageant - 12/22 at 10:00 AM
Christmas Eve Worship - 12/24 at 4:00 PM
Christmas Day Worship - 12/25 at 9:00 AM
See you in Church!
Peace,
Fr Adler+
p.s. Just a reminder that if you haven’t yet done so, please fill out and turn in your financial commitment to St. David’s for the coming year, either stop by the office and drop it off, or email it to our Bookkeeper (bookkeeper@stdavidsglenview.org). Thank you!
“Dominion” Extra Credit
Last week we finished out the first third of book. At least half of last week’s chapter, Exodus, focused on the rise and spread of Islam. I mentioned in our class that one of the instigating factors behind why Holland wrote “Dominion” is because he first wrote a book on Islam “In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and Rise of the Global Arab Empire.”
It was not without controversy. The BBC made a documentary with Holland a few years ago that summarizes some of the main points in that book. I am posting it below should you feel so inclined to see his thoughts more fleshed out than what was covered in last week’s chapter. (Just a reminder that we take the next two weeks off, and will resume on 12/1 with chapter 8.)
Islam: The Untold Story - Tom Holland: