61 Comments
User's avatar
Bubba's avatar

show us God’s preferential option for the ordinary, the small, the unnoticeable among us. Come and again show us what we always seem to forget - that the divine is so often concealed within the common. MMMMM. You and Richard Rohr on spotting that “awe inspiring moment” in the everyday. I’ve been doing it this past week and it is very peace giving.

Steve Beckham's avatar

Thank you, Nadia. NOW it feels like Advent.

Cindy W.'s avatar

I so appreciate your ability to translate and apply ancient traditions into our modern times - a true gift, Nadia! I’ve never considered the Antiphons much before; today, sharing this with my husband, this is Church. Thank you!

180 Degrees's avatar

This!! Nadia EXCELS at the clarification of the ancient. Not sure HOW we all found her, but so GRATEFUL that we did!!

Mary Snodderly's avatar

I had not even heard of the antiphons before. I found this wonderful liturgical service of all the O Antiphons online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2y5g7cjSWM

Dale D's avatar

At this time of year, I listen to just about anything by St. Olaf's choirs. That and John Denver and the Muppets.

180 Degrees's avatar

Thank you, Nadia. I feel “recentered”. By leaving my marriage, I also left money, vacations, and self-centeredness to care for “all species” and all people. (Let’s just say the “awakening” was QUITE a shift). You remind me what is most important. In so many ways, I honored myself AND others AND our “babies” (read LOTS of species...lol) by coming/staying here with my girl. But then sometimes the wandering vacation/money/etc eye gets the best of me and I forget my purpose and the beauty of the life I now have. This hit hard today. My purpose, my love in the mundane, is refreshed today. Thank you. ❤️❤️. NOW it’s the season. ❤️❤️

Ruth's avatar

I’ll be singing these words of yours in this familiar song. Thank you! “Come and again show us what we always seem to forget - that the divine is so often concealed within the common.”

Andy Alexis's avatar

At our first Sunday of Advent service last week at Trinity Episcopal, I saw a guy move a banner with what looked like a big asterisk to the back for the procession (it was supposed to be the sun).

So I started thinking we should have more banners with typographic symbols, like the hashtag (#)...which led me to think that in 30 years, the digital natives will be running the show at church and all 7 of the "O" Antiphon banners will have hashtags and QR codes on them: #Sapiens, #Adonai, #RadixJesse, etc.

Do you think I should be paying more attention to the actual service? :-)

John E Simpson's avatar

Love this inspired idea! ‼️

Maureen Johnson's avatar

Thank you Pastor! It’s just what my heart longed for in this Advent. It is hard to find the music that moves me like the Chanticleer. Nothin’ wrong with Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, it just doesn’t move me like classical choral music.

Maureen Johnson's avatar

Amazing! Love all of those men’s voices... there are not enough singing men!

Maureen Johnson's avatar

Thank you for sharing this video! It made my day.

Paul Hossfield's avatar

I just love the music of this time of year. My church has the most wonderful music program and it is such a joy to be part of it. The (relatively) new music director has done such wonders. We barely fit in the choir stalls any more and he brought the children's choir from like 3 kids to more than 2 dozen. He makes it fun so they tell their friends. They learn to read music and begin piano if they want (but the music reading is not optional) and it's all free whether you are a church member or not. There are free concerts and special services such Advent Lessons and Carols (beginning in 3 hours as I write this) all free and open to the public.

This is mainly what we give away together with the magnificent neo-gothic church building which we open every business day for whoever wants to come in and pray or just check it out or just get out of the rain and cold.

"Man shall not live on bread alone."

I don't do anything Christmassey at home. No need. I get all I can manage right here.

https://www.gracechurchprovidence.org/

John Turnquist's avatar

Thank you, Pr. Nadia. Last week, after discussing 2Peter 3:8-15a, I asked a small group that I am privileged to shepherd “Are we Second Coming Christians?” I followed that question with “Does this sentence describe us?: “We are so weary from waiting and hoping so long that sometime we start to lose sight of what we are waiting and hoping for.” (Shout out to Dr. Anna Marsh, Luther Seminary, for this insightful statement in her December 8 “God Pause” devotion). The following discussion, as you might expect, was lively, thoughtful, but inconclusive, because way too many of us spend way too little time pondering my question. We promised each other to resume the discussion when next we met. Blessed Advent 2 greetings to you, Pr. Nadia.

Kat's avatar

Dear Nadia,

I love me some Mariachi's singing traditional Christmas songs. Especially when making tamales on Christmas eve with my daughter and my granddaughter. Best time ever!

Love Kat

dkolsen's avatar

Moving words Nadia. Peace and thank you. This time of year I long to hear the magnficient silence in the woods after a fresh fallen snow. I have only memories, now, of those times yet the closeness of God in that still wildnerness lingers on.

Scribbleseed's avatar

Jethro Tull Christmas Album. Moody Blues December. Celtic Christmas I and II. Wayne Hamnerstadt.

Chuck's avatar

What?

Jethro Tull?

The ole "snot is running down his nose" aqualung guy?

I gotta go find this.

Scribbleseed's avatar

If you get the double CD there's a bonus one that describes how they made the music. Ian Anderson is very civilized and a classically trained musician. You just might be hooked.

mike mcaleese's avatar

Thank you

Beth's avatar

Thank you, Nadia. So many beautiful thoughts. Dropping self righteousness and living with humility are the ideas that struck me most.

Ron Garner's avatar

I've always loved the antiphons and have been a strict observer of Advent. No carols until Christmas Eve. But since I have only one more Advent/Christmas after this one (my retirement),I have given in to what seems like 34 years of pressure. We are singing carols during Advent. Of course we sang "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" on the First Sunday of Advent. I am also listening to carols with my iTunes app. I don't even feel guilty!