Another wonderful Sunday in Advent...

What an incredible and wonderful Sunday to bring Advent to a close:  the biblical scholar, Amy-Jill Levine was with us for our Sunday morning adult class - and after worship for conversation, too - our house was full for Advent IV and my music director debuted this afternoon with a classical festival concert with 65 voices in his choir!  I am knocked out!  Some of our young people from college were back, too - as well as a young Army officer - and there was a sense in church today that we're ALL going deeper into this wild, loving, gentle and totally counter cultural spirituality of Jesus.

+ We baptized a young mother and her 5 year old son this morning - both are from China -and that gave worship a whole other layer of meaning.  They've been worshipping with us since they moved to Pittsfield four years ago - about the same time we arrived - and now they were ready to take another step on the road of discipleship.

+ AJ Levine really helped bring the gospel stories about Christ's birth in Matthew and Luke to life as she pointed out the humor, the politics and the challenge to live into Christ's non-violent commitment to justice. Walter and June Wink joined us, too - he is one of the most insightful, challenging and wise scholars into the politics of Jesus - and I was blessed that in his aging years he was able to be a part of this special morning.

And as is so often the case, my soul was fed with today's music - in church - and at the afternoon concert.  There were 250+ people at the concert so when we sang the old Christmas carols - with 30 women doing descants - it was heavenly.  I find that I am always moved to tears by both "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World."  I don't need a hymnal - or song sheet - I just belt it out from memory - and when the high sopranos add those sweet, sweet descants... I'm a goner!

All I can do now is give thanks to God... and get ready for Christmas Eve. (Well, and have a glass of red wine and make some dinner...)