Immigrant God
Be with us
Be with those separated from families
Teach us how to make room at the inn
Remind us
That you translated
Yourself into Humanity
Because you understood
That we humans
We hate translating
Teach us to keep at this translation work
of human to understand divine
of cultural understanding
of the beauty of change (we humans aren’t so good at change)
Translate us
into a Christmas people
we pray
Amen
Advent
Because we aren’t ready
And
God is here
In the dark
In the waiting room
God is here
In the sadness
In the not quite revolution yet
There is no shame in advent
There is sanctuary in the quiet
Anticipation
Itchiness of almost
There is holiness
In the time of not quite
There is connection
In the confusion
Of complicated
Not having our
Shit together yet
There is beauty
In creating rituals
to wait together
So that we remember
…that we are not waiting
Alone
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka “KatyandtheWord”
Christmas is 12 days
Because it is supposed to be an entire season
Enough time
to rest
refresh
reflect
It was never supposed to be all stuffed into one day
There was supposed to be
enough time
for journeys
getting lost
finding our way again
and then
eventually
room for
an epiphany
Christmas is
a space
a season
a journey
a wandering
a pondering
—-so if your haven’t done all of the Christmas things
Or if everything didn’t go perfectly
Remember you are in good
wizardly
some would even say
wise
company
Eyvind Earle 3 Magi (The artist for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty)
3 Crowned Men with black beards—identical, holding gifts frankincense, gold and myrrh, with black and Bluegreen cloaks trimmed in golden plants.
Offering the gifts to Mary with a baby (both with black hair) at her breast with a moon/golden plant trimmed halo around them. Mary is dressed in gold trimmed purple.
God there are so many
worries I have in
the world
But then I remember
that Ozma**
was restored
to rule
and got
her happy ending
and became a girl***
without any fuss at all
And that stories of
Defying Gravity
for
Different
Divergent
Witches
In not Pink Skins
are inspiring
Songs everywhere
and that Glinda too
realized
she needed a castle
with women
I remember that
Banksy is creating
and recreating
for Peace
I read all the
Science Fiction
and Fantasy
about acceptance
I remember
that people are
upset about
Woke
things
Because they
sell so well
And I take a deep breath
And sing
the Magnificat
Again
With Mary
As
We Advent
(Wait, Long, etc.)
again
for Jesus
*Footnote: Link above Mary Poppins Spoonful of sugar was inspired by the oral Polio vaccine which was given with a square of sugar to help the medicine go down. I am very worried about the discrediting of vaccines in this day of age. I am also worried because I have a child with autism, and although vaccines do not cause autism, time and time again people have insisted they basically would rather risk death then have a child with autism. It is a sobering thought.
**Footnote: Read Ozma of Oz, it is one of the first happy endings for LGBTQIA. Also L. Frank Baum wrote many, many women based upon his feminist mother-in-law, some of them funny, some of them strong, all of them amazing. There is a lot of variation in Oz, because it is fantasy. It is amazing, per usual. Wicked also has LGBTQIA acceptance obliquely within it, however L. Frank Baum’s stories are wide open for interpretation as most fantastic stories are.
***Footnote: “became a girl” is not quite right but it’s fantasy and this is poetry I don’t want to ruin for you…so excuse my clumsy wording for the gist of the mystery of the book that you will now have to read.
Joy
is not a platitude
though sometimes
we use it as a mask
Joy is not smile
Jesus loves you
it is not happiness
Have you seen
a joyful child?
the gift of their giggles
the wonder of life
borne from love
(yes I am writing
all bornes with
poetic “e”s this season)
Joy is rebellious
it is deep-rooted sense
of differentiated
Belonging
to Community
Creation
and Self
All at Once
it is the ability
to still Create
even in the Midst
of Grief
Joy is Art
Joy to the World
Is practicing
Advent
claiming the
Holy Imaginings
for better
How Much More
For Proclaiming Lament
And Claiming Tomorrow
Joy is the In-Breaking Christmas
In the Midst of Advent
Even the Ancient Priests had Proclaim in Pink
Excuse me I mean Rose
Because they could not hold back
the Gaudy Carols of Christmas
During the Long Season
Of Advent
(and not just because it used to be
Six Weeks instead of Four)
God, you know,
That we know,
We are tired of this Advent Season
Yet
Somehow
You Teach us Joy
In Children
In Art
In Gardens
In Our Deep Longings for More
Remind us that
Joy
is a
Revolution*
Amen
Amen
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
To read more about How Joy is a Revolution
https://aestheticsofjoy.com/joy-is-an-act-of-resistance-how-celebration-sustains-activism-2/
https://www.whatcompjc.org/blog/august-03rd-2020
“Incite Joy” By Gay Ross from your local bookstore
Silent Night, Holy Night
Womb of Love
Creative Might
Holy Darkness the Spirit indwells
Giving Hope to the marginal
Midwife of Harmony,
Midwife of Harmony
Advent, Peace, Prince of Peace, Christmas, Jesus, Baby
Advent Hymns
God the Weaver: To the Tune of Away in the Manger
Magnify the Lord: to the Tune of O Come All Ye Faithful
God of Peace: To the Tune of Silent Night
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Magnificat Version
Worship Services
Pageant
Unfreezing Xmas, No Rehearsal Version
Advent Candles/Worship Prayers/Etc
Tidings of Comfort and Joy Advent
Feel free to use/share/adapt with attribution to Pastor Katy Stenta aka “KatyandtheWord”
For a doc version for easy formatting email Katyandtheword at Gmail and title the email “Advent”
Included: Breath Prayers, Call to Worship (either of which could can be used for Candle Liturgy), Candles, Two Song verse options for Candle Lighting, Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Additional Psalm Option
Hope: When the Lions Come at Night
Daniel 6:6-27
Luke 23:1-5
Psalm 57 all or v. 4-10
Breath Prayer
Breathe in: Holy Spirit we need you
Breathe out: comfort us
Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 57)
In God my soul takes refuge my soul takes refuge and comfort, God is my hope.
God will send forth steadfast love and faithfulness.
Even if I lie down among lions, with teeth as sharp as spears, and tongues like sharp spears, my heart is steadfast and I will sing and make melody.
I know I will awake at God.
My hope is in God, for your steadfast love is high as the heavens, and your faithfulness extends to the clouds
Come let awaken our souls to God in song.
Advent Candle: Hope
Hope of the World, we light this candle because we feel like we are surrounded by Lions
Hope of the World Comfort us
Hope of the World, we light this candle, because we are an apocalyptic people, overwhelmed with too many uncovering of knowledge
Hope of the World Comfort us
Hope of the World, we light this candle, because we await the moment that Justice reigns, and your truth is magnified
Hope of the World, Comfort us
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we do not always understand hope. Is its meant to inspire us? Or to comfort us? Awaken us to the condition of the world? Too often we feel too surrounded by Lions to hope in these apocalyptic times. Teach us how to understand hope as promise that you give balanced against our responsibility to act, and give us the tools we need to walk with Jesus along the way we pray. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good news, Jesus is our Hope, so we do not have to hope alone. So know the Good news and proclaim it to one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen
(Verse 1) God rest you merry, gentlemen/folk
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Another Optional Hymn verse 1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel Magnificat (less political, substitutionary atonement version) https://katyandtheword.com/2023/11/08/o-come-o-come-emmanuel-magnificat-version/
Peace: Binding up the Brokenhearted
Joel 2:12-13, 28-29
Luke 11:(9-12) 13
Psalm 147:1-6 (7-11)
Breath Prayer
Breathe in: God you are peace
Breathe out: Bind our brokenhearted
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 147)
God you are Good, you build us up as community
God binds up our wounds: caring for us, healing our brokenhearts
Great is our God, powerful, because God sows peace and mercy
We recognize our God, because our God is the one lifting up the downtrodden, and knowing everything by name from the farthest star, to every person from the mighty to the meek.
Let us sing to the Divine who grants Peace
Come let us sing to God’s steadfast love
Advent Candle: Peace
Purveyor of Peace, we pray for the day that we shall learn war no more
We are seeing visions and dream dreams of peace together
We feel in our bones, that we need peace. We light this candle because we are hungering for it.
God, we will envision peace together
Purveyor of Peace, we light this candle because we know peace is your way, and you will bind our brokenhearts to make it possible.
God, we will envision peace together
Prayer of Confession: Divine One, at times it feels like the world is full of war and brokenness. Peace seems impossible. Comfort us, teach us to be peacemakers, so that we can catch glimpses of your kin(g)dom, we pray. And remind us that we are not doing this work alone. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon. Hear the good news, the Prince of Peace is coming. It is promised. Let us proclaim the the truth in our hearts: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Magnificat Version V. 3 or V. 7 (or Both) https://katyandtheword.com/2023/11/08/o-come-o-come-emmanuel-magnificat-version/
(Verse 7) Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood/siblinghood/Kindomhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Joy: Comfort and Joy
Isaiah 61:1-11
Luke 4:16-21
Alt. Isaiah 40:1-8
Psalm 27: 13-14
Breath Prayer
Breathe in: Comfort your people
Breathe Out: God teach us Comfort and Joy
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 27)
God is our stronghold
With God as our comfort and salvation, who shall we fear?
God who comes out of the holy creative darkness
You come and show us the way, so we are not afraid
You shelter us under your wings, and comfort us
Come, let us rejoice with God that Jesus is coming.
Advent Candle: Joy
Holy Comforter, speak tenderly to us, so that we have the seeds of joy planted in us.
Holy Comforter, Send your Spirit of Joy to us.
We light this candle so that you can teach us joy
Holy Comforter, Send Your Spirit of joy to us
Send your Spirit to us, Prepare the way for us, light the candle with us.
Holy Comforter, Send Your Spirit of joy to us
Prayer of Confession: God, I confess it is hard to feel joyful when I feel afraid. I sometimes feel like I want to hide under the covers, or turn off the news, or quit. Please send us your Holy Spirit, Shelter us under your wings, and teach us where to find joy, so that we can remember that you are walking with us. Give us threads of joy even in the long waiting season of Advent we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God is with us, even as we wait, understanding us, loving us and comforting us. Thus we know the Good News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
(Verse 3) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Another Optional Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel Magnificat Version verse 5 https://katyandtheword.com/2023/11/08/o-come-o-come-emmanuel-magnificat-version/
Week 4 Love: Love: Fear Not, Love’s comfort and empowering work
Luke 1:26-45 [46-56]
Psalm 113
Psalm 27:1-4
Call to Worship
Give Thanks to the Lord
God’s Love endures Forever
God is Divine always
They have made a Covenant with all the World
They have made the sun, the moon the stars, and all the earth
God’s steadfast Love endures forever
We can tell stories of God’s love, and who God is, and still not fully understand God’s love
Come Let us sing of God’s love together.
Advent Candle: Love
God shows God’s love and favor by being with us
Divine Love, Be with us now
We light this candle remembering God’s promise to be with us, Sending Jesus as that promise.
Divine Love, Be with us now
Beloved God, we long to magnify your promises, for they are full of love, so we light a candle of love together.
Divine Love, Be with us now
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that Love is a struggle. It takes work to love humans. It is not an easy thing to practice. Help us to lean into our own belovedness, when I struggle imperfections—my own or others. God we desperately need to remember that you are love. Help us with that we pray.
Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News, God loves us. We can sink into God’s love, and thus we can say with confidence the echo of God’s promise to us: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen
(Verse 4) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Another Optional Hymn verse 4 or 6 (or Both) O Come, O Come Emmanuel Magnificat Version https://katyandtheword.com/2023/11/08/o-come-o-come-emmanuel-magnificat-version/
Full Directory of Advent and Christmas Resources Here
Feel free to use/share/adapt with attribution to Pastor Katy Stenta aka “KatyandtheWord”
For a doc version for easy formatting email Katyandtheword at Gmail and title the email “Advent”
Thanks for reading KatyandtheWord! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Magi
because
Venturing out
is Magic
Wisdom
is magic
Taking a leap of Faith
is also magic
Packing up for the Journey
Being willing to be Lost
Asking for help
and directions
Glorifying others
Going to an unknown land
Honoring a child
Listening to a woman
a mother
not having to be informed by an angel
Completing the journey
and going home
to tell to the story
Putting all the pieces together
to have a realization
of how this is going to effect
and change your own
life
having an epiphany
is what being a Magi
experiencing the magic
of Christmas
Is all about
May you follow that
Star of Faith
all year
Picture from the well beloved Wandering Wisemen Picture Ministry which is having its final year this year found https://www.facebook.com/thewanderingwisemen
(Epiphany Star Generator Link: https://perchance.org/starwords2022)
Feel free to share/adapt/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
My Poem about rejecting my Star Word: https://open.substack.com/pub/katystenta/p/p-e-f-e-c-t?r=1qkzy4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop: https://open.substack.com/pub/katystenta/p/lets-write-liturgy-workshop?r=1qkzy4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Cost $50
katyandtheword 