Advent 2020
On November 20, the maximum number allowed at a church service in Toronto was reduced to 10 by provincial and city authorities, endorsed by our bishops. Every indication is that those restrictions are going to be with us through the Christmas season.
And so, like Lent and Easter this year, we will observe Advent and Christmas closer to home. Odd as it may seem, a lot of distractions have been removed, many which hinder our prayers. With a view to the opportunity this presents, here are four recommendations for Advent 2020.
First, follow the Advent Christian tradition of setting aside time for fasting and prayer. If you don’t already have a daily pattern of prayer, try Morning Prayer on your own or with others on Zoom (www.stpl.ca/services.html).
Secondly, read. Find a good book that will encourage you, that will build your faith, that will offer you the simple pleasure of a good book. (Suggestions below.)
Thirdly, give. Remember your parish. We need everyone’s help to weather the Covid-19 storm. But in particular, remember those hardest hit by Covid-19: in your family, your Christian family, our brothers and sisters in need in the community and around the world.
At St. Paul’s, four ways of doing this spring to mind:
The Christmas Food Hamper program for parish members in need;
The foodbank of Agincourt Community Services;
The Angel Tree program, providing gift cards to children with a parent in prison;
A donation to Faithworks through which help is provided by the Anglican Church here and around the world.
Fourth and finally, connect and serve. Be in touch with those who you haven’t seen in a while, with a special thought for those in our company who live alone and may be vulnerable in this long season of isolation.
And so, like Lent and Easter this year, we will observe Advent and Christmas closer to home. Odd as it may seem, a lot of distractions have been removed, many which hinder our prayers. With a view to the opportunity this presents, here are four recommendations for Advent 2020.
First, follow the Advent Christian tradition of setting aside time for fasting and prayer. If you don’t already have a daily pattern of prayer, try Morning Prayer on your own or with others on Zoom (www.stpl.ca/services.html).
Secondly, read. Find a good book that will encourage you, that will build your faith, that will offer you the simple pleasure of a good book. (Suggestions below.)
Thirdly, give. Remember your parish. We need everyone’s help to weather the Covid-19 storm. But in particular, remember those hardest hit by Covid-19: in your family, your Christian family, our brothers and sisters in need in the community and around the world.
At St. Paul’s, four ways of doing this spring to mind:
The Christmas Food Hamper program for parish members in need;
The foodbank of Agincourt Community Services;
The Angel Tree program, providing gift cards to children with a parent in prison;
A donation to Faithworks through which help is provided by the Anglican Church here and around the world.
Fourth and finally, connect and serve. Be in touch with those who you haven’t seen in a while, with a special thought for those in our company who live alone and may be vulnerable in this long season of isolation.
advent memorial service - saturday, dec. 19
Join us for the annual Advent Memorial Service, this year by Zoom, on Saturday, December 19, at 7.00 p.m.. The Zoom invitation is available here.
reading suggestions
from Fr. dean
- After You Believe, by N. T. Wright - a good book about the meaning and purpose of the Christian life.
- How to Read the Bible for All its Worth, by Gordon Fee - a simple but very good introduction to the Bible and all its variety.
- Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions, by Arthur Boers. A great read and right for the time we're in.
- Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis - Screwtape Letters is great fun to read with lots of insight into the nature of temptation. The Chronicles of Narnia are good for reading with the family, but for those who are completing the recent Bible study of Revelation, you may enjoy "The Last Battle".
- The Innocence of Father Brown - for those whose appetite has been whetted by the mysteries unravelled by Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown will serve you well as well as provide a good introduction to G. K. Chesterton.
- David Copperfield - A Christmas Carol is the obvious choice in December, but I've been enjoying David Copperfield this fall. Characters like Uriah Heap and Mr. Micawber last forever. Look for the version with the introduction by G. K. Chesterton.
from Fr. arthur
- The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ's Coming, by Wendy Wright. A new book that weaves together the liturgical calendar, traditions from Christmas masses in medieval times, traditional themes of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, and stories from scripture and her own life.
- (For Advent) Malcolm Guite, Waiting for the Word: A poem a day for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
- (Advent) Wendy Wright, The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ’s Coming
- (Novel) James McBride, The Good Lord Bird (National Book Award-winning novel about a freed child slave who accompanies John Brown; author McBride is African American Christian)
- (Novel) Marilynne Robinson, Gilead (Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of a small-town pastor’s final reflections for his young son: author wRobinson is a believer and it shows)
- (Christian witness) John Kiser, The Monks of Tibhirine (Modern day heroes of the faith; you may know their story from the excellent film Of Gods and Men)
- (Christian faith) Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son (Nouwen once told me that this was his favourite of all his books; and I can see why)