Sharon Kinsey's Reflections

Trish Lawson and I always have fun choosing an Advent study for the Faithful Friends Bible study. We pour through the PCUSA catalogue, check on-line, and discuss a variety of topics. This has been a most enjoyable part of serving as Moderator of Faith Formation for the past 6 years. Trish has a wealth of knowledge, great ideas and vision, and her faith is steadfast. 

During Advent 2025, we will be using the book, Calling All Angels; an Advent Study of Fearlessness and Strength. It was written in 2024 by Erin Wathen, who was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and is currently pastor of Grace Immanuel United Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Mark Sandlin, President of Progressive christianity.org says, “Wathen’s inviting style, relatable stories, clear-minded progressive theological perspectives, and spirit-building questions and conclusions are truly a gift for modern-day Christian seekers.”

Advent, in the liturgical calendar, is the four weeks prior to Christmas. Sometimes it starts in the last days of November or the first days of December. For Christians, Advent is a season of preparation and waiting. As we get ready to welcome the birth of the baby Jesus, it is a time of individual growth as the Holy Spirit encourages us to slow down, rest, and prepare. I can just imagine the incredulous looks on the faces of some of my readers; “Rest…slow down. Are you kidding me?” Shopping, wrapping, decorating, mailing packages, and baking take on a life of their own.

Our time during those weeks is finite. We have to be intentional about carving out time to reflect on the magnitude of the events taking place during Advent. Creating a sacred space among the greens, ribbons, and baking supplies is pretty important. In the last few years, I’ve tried to find a few minutes to sit, “Be still…”, read a devotion or passage of Scripture, and feel the presence of my Lord. I light a mulled cider or frosty pine candle, have a cup of Christmas tea or cocoa, put my feet up, and breathe for a bit. Last year I sometimes sat beside the Nativity scene we put out each year. It was a gift from my parents and many little hands have played with the figurines, moving the animals, holding the angels above the shepherds, and, yes, occasionally hiding Baby Jesus. 

Another way to find peace and joy during Advent is to make time to be in community with our brothers and sisters in faith. Faithful Friends meets on Wednesday morning at 10:00 in Room 101. As I was preparing for our first gathering, I was touched by the words in Wathen’s introduction: “Do not be afraid.” It is the most frequently repeated message in scripture and occurs more than 300 times. WOW! And we know about angelic beings appearing on a number of occasions before the Nativity story, Gabriel and Joseph’s angel to name a few. Lately, the subject of angels has created a lot of interest and attention. We ponder the concept of visible vs. invisible beings. We stand in awe when we think about the multitude of the Heavenly host that filled the sky above the fields where shepherds were tending their sheep. We sing about, “ Angels from the realms of glory…” and “Angels we have heard on high…” And every Christmas pageant has an angel or two in the cast. My favorite costumes here at FPCV had wings made of coffee filters and tinsel haloes. 

If you would like to spend some time learning about angels, singing a few carols, reading Scripture, and talking about favorite Christmas traditions, we’d love to see you on Wednesday mornings. I’ll leave you with this:

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

               “Glory to God in the highest heaven

                       and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

                                                       — Luke 2:8-14