#the 3rd candle of advent

[meegan-123]

The 3 week of Advent the Candle of Peace

[adventuresofalgy]

Algy hopped up into a convenient Scots pine tree, well away from the cold, wet snow on the ground, and settled down to read his very own adventure tale The Magical Midwinter Star, which had just been reissued in paperback.

Algy turned page after page, excitedly going back in his mind to that past adventure from his very first winter in the wild west Highlands of Scotland, and he became so engrossed in his own story that he failed to notice that the magic pumpkin lantern, which he had balanced carefully on a branch between his feet, had once more transformed itself into a candle.

As the flame began to glow, Algy was in the middle of the chapter called Snow. Oh No! in which he decided that he would have to brave the dangers of the deep midwinter to search for a very special tree. Reaching the bottom of page 40 he read:

“When I was chatting with Wee Katie,” Algy said hesitantly, “she told me that, once upon a time, the creatures round here used to have a big party in the middle of the winter, to cheer everyone up when it was so cold and dark. She called it a hootenanny.” “A hootenanny!” echoed Mr Voles excitedly. “And when I asked Ruaridh if he knew what the silvery balls might be,” Algy continued, “young Flòraidh sang me some verses from an old song about a green tree and the Midwinter Star.” “The Midwinter Star,” Mr Voles murmured dreamily. “The Midwinter Star.” “The song mentioned dressing up the tree with pretty things,” said Algy, “but Ruaridh said that no one has done that for ages, because the old pine tree blew down.” “Quite so,” rasped Roni. “Quite so,” echoed Mr Voles regretfully. “Quite so.” Roni hopped over to the edge of the Singing Place and perched on the bare rock, staring intently at Algy. “Go on,” she rasped. “Go on!” echoed Mr Voles breathlessly. “Go on!” “Well, I was thinking” said Algy. “I thought that maybe, if I could find a suitable tree somewhere, I could use the silvery objects I found – I mean the baubles – to decorate it, and then we could all have a grand midwinter hootenanny like they did in the old days.” “A fine idea, in principle,” rasped Roni. “A fine idea!” agreed Mr Voles, jumping up and down beside Algy’s foot.

[Algy is reading his own illustrated children's chapter book The Magical Midwinter Star, which together with the other books in the series Tales from the Adventures of Algy is available from Amazon in most countries of the world.]

[samirafee]

#TOMMY😽❄️MERRY CHRISTMAS🌟

🕯️🕯️🕯️

@samirafee

[roadtrippinlilly]

Gaudete Sunday

The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because “Rejoice” is the first word in the entrance antiphon for today's Mass taken from Philippians 4:4,5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!

Source Me laf@ilyF ❤️

[dwuerch-blog]

Let the Joy Bells Ring

Today is the third Sunday of Advent and we should be singing “Go Tell It on the Mountain”! Well, not necessarily from a mountain. That would mean we’d have to go climbing! Perhaps we can start right here at ground zero to be joy-filled and full of the good news of Christ’s coming to this earth for you and me. The pink, third candle on the Advent wreath is lit today. The pink candle symbolizes…

[nonsensical-pixels]

happy birthday to you, simscord! on this day in 2022, @skittlesplays created the most iconic sims discord server ever. to celebrate the beginning of its 3rd year in this sinful world, have a very special gift i made for my fellow 'shrimpscordians': the shrimpsday cake! 🥳

this should go very well with my shrimpsmas collection! it is essentially @balkopat's white birthday cake recolored to look a bit more 'shrimpsy', and decorated using @surely-sims' inflatable wedding arch from their my wedding trauma collab with @ice-creamforbreakfast, plus dozens of lil shrimp toys from their 2023 advent calendar!

the cake is of course fully functional, has all states, and should be edible! it has 7873 polys and is recolorable, but for now only has the 1 swatch pictured; feel free to add your own.

here's to another year of wonderful memories and shrimpsy insanity, simscord! 🥂 blow out your candles, do the twirl, and age up!

DOWNLOAD: SFS | MF 🦐

credits go to @balkopat for the original white birthday cake, which i recolored, cloned, and edited from their 4t2 conversion; and to @surely-sims for the adorable wedding arch and shrimp toy meshes! also to @skittlesplays, who kinda commissioned this cake in the midst of spam-shrimp sanity. plus of course to my fellow shrimps for always cheering me on ����😍

proof that it works ^-^

if there are any issues that you find with this cake, please don't be afraid to let me know! happy simming, and when you download this, do keep in mind,

Love, ~ Ky 💓

[thelien-art]

December; the 3rd

Advent game: Finarfin

Find the six petaled flower (a depiction of one, such as in an embroidery etc. - not a real one)

I wanted to draw something fancy - I don't usually see him dressing this fancy but here you have ara dressed up for a very important meeting, or maybe a ball who knows?

without advent candle↓

[kiwiana-writes]

All Those Christmas Clichés: Advent 2023

Because I'm the emperor of terrible decisions... fuck it, let's do an advent fic. Daily triple drabbles, set 1-25 December 2023, using the prompt list from @youneedsomeprompts found here.

All Those Christmas Clichés (now complete!)

December 1st: Making an advent calendar for a friend/loved one December 2nd: Going to pick a Christmas tree together December 3rd: Decorating the house December 4th: Putting up Christmas lights in their room December 5th: Writing letters to Santa December 6th: Secret Santa December 7th: Writing Christmas cards December 8th: Studying the other's wishlist December 9th: Decorating the Christmas tree with one additional new ornament every year December 10th: Baking a ton of Christmas cookies December 11th: Bringing cookies everywhere they go December 12th: Only listening to Christmas albums December 13th: Practising Christmas songs on the piano December 14th: Watching old holiday movies December 15th: Going to a Christmas market December 16th: Having a winter picnic with cookies and thermos flasks December 17th: Shovelling snow after heavy snowfall December 18th: Putting up candles everywhere December 19th: Having a sledging contest December 20th: Eating clementines until the whole house smells citrusy December 21st: Inventing new hot chocolate recipes December 22nd: Dressing up their pet December 23rd: Baking fruit bread December 24th: Decorating a gingerbread house December 25th: Preparing a large Christmas dinner together

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.8

Holidays

Astraea Asteroid Day

Battle Day (Falkland Islands)

Be Someone's Pillow While You Watch TV Night

Bodhi Day (Buddhism; Secular Date)

CARICOM-Cuba Day

Charity Day (Ukraine)

Colorism Awareness Day

COVID-19 Origin Day

Day of Finnish Music (Finland)

Day of Loyalty & Love for Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)

Day of Radio and Television Workers (Kyrgyzstan)

Human Rights and Peace Day (Kiribati)

International Artist’s Day

Ivy Day (French Republic)

Kliment Ohirdski (Macedonia)

Mother’s Day (Panama)

National Bad Hair Day

National Blue Collar Day

National Christmas Tree Day

National Crossword Solvers Day

National Dave Day

National Donair Day (Canada)

National Family Day Darn It

National Health Savings Account Day

National Simon Day

National Students’ Day (Bulgaria)

National Tree Planting Day (Malawi)

National White People Take BLM Out of Your Profile Day

National Youth Day (Albania)

Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (Ethiopia)

Nicki Minaj Day

Night of the Lizard King

Panama Beach Day (Uruguay)

Pansexual Pride Day

Popeye Day

Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day

St. Kliment Ohridski Day (Macedonia)

Studrntski Praznik (Students’ Day; Bulgaria)

Take It In the Ear Day

Virgin of Caacupé Day (Paraguay)

Winter Flowers Day

World Climate Day

World Indica Day

World TAPS Awareness Day

World VFX Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Lemon Squeezer Day

National Bartender Day

National Chocolate Brownie Day (a.k.a. Brownie Day)

National Concha Day (Mexico)

National Lard Day

Portland Holiday Brew Fest

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Romania; Saipan; Uzbekistan)

H.E.R. (Humanitarian Empire and Realm; Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Taguig City Charter Day (Philippines)

2nd Sunday in December

International Children’s Day [2nd Sunday]

Jashan-e Sadeh (a.k.a. Adar-Jashen; Zoroastrian/Parsi)

Lager Beer Week begins [Sunday of 2nd full week]

National Children’s Memorial Day [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

2nd Sunday in Advent [3rd Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Love Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday

Waiting Sunday

World Choral Day [2nd Sunday]

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day (7 PM) [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 8 (2nd Full Week of December)

Computer Science Education Week (thru 12.14) [Week including 12.9]

Lager Beer Week (thru 12.14) [2nd Week]

Festivals Beginning December 8, 2024

British Independent Film Awards (London, United Kingdom)

Good Things Brisbane (Brisbane, Australia)

Heritage Fire (Charleston, South Carolina)

Mill Valley WinterFest (Mill Valley, California)

Feast Days

Adolph Menzel (Artology)

Afflux (Discordian)

Albert Gleizes (Artology)

Amaterasu Day (Goddess of the Sun; Shinto; Japan; Everyday Wicca)

Aristide Maillol (Artology)

Army Day (Spain)

Astraea's Day (Greek Goddess of Justice)

Bill Bryson (Writerism)

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (Writerism)

Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Secular Bodhi; Buddhism) (Lunar Bodhi: 8th Day, 12th Moon)

Bodhi Season, Day 8 (Buddhism; Secular Date) [Leading Up to 12.8] (a.k.a. ... 

Principles: Enso

Secular: Bodhi Day Eve

Eightfold Path: Awakened Mindfulness and Concentration

The Heart Sutra: Kintsugi (Golden Repair)

Budoc (Beuzec) of Dol (Christian; Saint)

Camille Claudel (Artology)

Chesty Puller Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Clement of Ohrid (Julian Calendar)

Day of Tiberinus (Pagan)

Diego Rivera (Artology)

E. C. Segar (Artology)

Eucharius (Christian; Saint)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian) [a.k.a. ... 

Blessing of the Water Day (Uruguay)

Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Anglican Communion)

Dia de las Playas (Day of the Beaches or Family Day; Uruguay)

Festa da Conceição da Praia, celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean in Umbanda (Salvador, Bahia)

Festival of Lights (Lyon)

Immaculate Conception Day (Christian Nations)

Mother's Day (Panama)

Our Lady of Camarin Day (Guam)

Festival of Neith (Ancient Egypt)

Festival of Tiberinus (Ancient Rome)

Festa da Conceição da Praia (celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean; Brazil)

Fiber Projects Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Garlic Bread Day (Pastafarian)

Hanukkah Day #1 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

Hari-Kuyō (Shinto Festival of Broken Needles; Japan)

James Thurber (Artology; Writerism)

John Banville (Writerism)

Kliment Ohridski (Christian; Saint ) [Malta]

Louis de Bernières (Writerism)

Lucien Freud (Artology)

Marian Kamalen (Christian; Saint) [Guam]

Patapios of Thebes (Christian; Saint)

Pope Eutychian (Christian; Saint)

Richard Baxter (US Episcopal Church)

Rohatsu (Bodhi; Buddhism)

Romaric (a..k.a. Romanic; Christian; Saint)

17 Triads Day (Celtic Book of Days)

The Six Dwarves (Muppetism)

Virgin of Caacupé Day (Paraguay)

Volta (Positivist; Saint)

Wifredo Lam (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [67 of 71]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Anne of a Thousand Days, by Maxwell Anderson (Play; 1948)

Babe, by Styx (Song; 1979)

Blade: Trinity (Film; 2004)

Blood Diamond (Film; 2006)

California Dreaming’, by the Mamas & the Papas (Song; 1965)

Cat Napping (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

Children’s Hospital (TV Series; 2008)

Cigars of the Pharaoh, by Hergé (Graphic Novel; 1934) [Tintin #4]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden dragon (Film; 2000)

The Deer Hunter (Film; 1978)

The Disaster Artist (Film; 2017)

Dungeons & Dragons (Film; 2000)

Gandy’s Dream Girl (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1944)

The Holiday (Film; 2006)

The Honey Mousers (WB LT Cartoon; 1956)

Hotel California, by The Eagles (Album; 1976)

In Flanders Field (Poem; 1915)

I, Tonya (Film; 2017)

Little Televillain (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1958)

Lolly Bomb, by Little Big (Song; 2017)

Luisa Miller, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1849)

Merry Little Batman (WB Animated Film; 2023)

Moon River, recorded by Henry Mancini (Song; 1960)

Mr. Fantasy, by Traffic (Album; 1967)

My Heart Will Go On, by Celine Dion (Song; 1997)

On the Town (Film; 1949)

Permanent Damage, by The GTO’s [Girls Together Outrageously] (Album; 1969)

Poor Things (Film; 2023)

Pop Gos Your Heart (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

She-Sick Sailors (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1944)

Shishkabugs (WB LT Cartoon; 1962)

Silver Streak (Film; 1976)

Sophie’s Choice (Film; 1982)

A Star is Born (Film; 1976)

The Sundowners (Film; 1960)

Symphony No. 7 in A Major, by Ludwig van Beethoven (Symphony; 1813)

Their Satanic Majesties Request, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1967)

Surfin’, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1961)

Termites from Mars (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1952)

The Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1964)

Wise Owl (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1940)

Today’s Name Days

Edith, Elfriede (Austria)

Edita, Euharije, Ljiljana, Marija, Nevenka, Sabina (Croatia)

Květoslava (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Külli, Küllike, Külliki, Külve, Külvi (Estonia)

Kylli, Kyllikki (Finland)

Edith. Mariä Empfängnis (Germany)

Patapios (Greece)

Mária (Hungary)

Immacolata (Italy)

Guna, Gunārs, Marieta, Vladimirs (Latvia)

Gedmintė, Guntilda, Vaidginas, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Marion, Marlene, Morgan (Norway)

Boguwola, Klement, Maria, Światozar, Wirginiusz (Poland)

Patapie (Romania)

Marína (Slovakia)

Concepción, Inmaculada (Spain)

Virginia (Sweden)

Potap (Ukraine)

Rohan, Spence, Spencer, Spenser (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 343 of 2024; 23 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 49 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 8 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 13 Black; Sixthday [13 of 30]

Julian: 25 November 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 7 Bichat (13th Month) [Galileo]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 77 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 17 of 30)

[brookston]

Holidays 12.10

Holidays

Bob Dylan Day (Minnesota)

Chief Red Cloud Day

Constitution Day (Thailand)

Dewey Decimal System Day

Flag Day (Guinea)

Flipadelphia (from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”)

Grub-Hoe Day (French Republic)

International Animal Rights Day

International Aszu Day

Jane Addams Day

Merlinpeen (Festival of Mouth Pleasure from Secret Santa; Verdkianism; on “30 Rock”)

National Cancel Caillou Day

National Corey Day

National Day of the Clown

National Derek Day

Nobeldagen (a.k.a. Alfred Nobel Day; Sweden)

Nobel Prize Day

Sister-Friend Day

Victory Day (Iraq)

Whirling Dervishes Festival begins [thru 17th]

Women’s Day (Namibia)

Women’s Rights Day (Wyoming)

World Digital Detox Day

World Football Day

World Human Rights Day (UN)

World TRAP Awareness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Do Something Wild and Crazy with Velveeta Day

National Lager Day

National Pancetta Day

Suspended Coffee Day

Terra Madre Day (Slow Food)

2nd Sunday in December

International Children’s Day [2nd Sunday]

Jashan-e Sadeh (a.k.a. Adar-Jashen; Zoroastrian/Parsi)

Lager Beer Week begins [Sunday of 2nd full week]

National Children’s Memorial Day [2nd Sunday]

2nd Sunday in Advent [3rd Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Love Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday

Waiting Sunday

World Choral Day [2nd Sunday]

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day (7 PM) [2nd Sunday]

Independence Days

Mississippi Statehood Day (#20; 1817)

Tortuga (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adriaen van Ostade (Artology)

Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Syriac Orthodox Church)

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Eulalia of Mérida (Christian; Saint)

Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales (Inuit)

Greta Kempton (Artology)

Hanukkah Day #3 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

International Human Rights Day (Pastafarian)

Karl Barth (Episcopal Church USA)

Lux Mundi (Light of the World; Roman Goddess of Liberty)

Melchiades, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Miltiades (Christian; Saint)

Sedna’s Day (Pagan)

Thomas Merton (Episcopal Church USA)

The Toves (Muppetism)

Translation of the Holy House of Loreto (Christian)

Vieta (Positivist; Saint)

Zinaida Serebriakova (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fatal Day (Pagan) [24 of 24]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain (Novel; 1884)

Bedazzled (Film; 1967)

Bedknob and Broomstick, by Mary Norton (Novel; 1943)

Being the Ricardos (Film; 2021)

Big Fish (Film; 2003)

Boris Bashes a Box or The Flat Chest (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 237; 1963)

The Cider House Rules (Film; 1999)

A Day at the Races, by Queen (Album; 1976)

Donald’s Ostrich (Disney Cartoon; 1937)

The Ethics of Ambiguity, by Simone de Beauvoir (Philosophy Book; 1947)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

Fernando, by ABBA (Song; 1975)

The Fighter (Film; 2010)

48 Hrs. (Film; 1982)

Gandhi (Film; 1982)

The Glenn Miller Story (Film; 1953)

The Green Mile (Film; 1999)

Guided Muscle (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

Guys and Dolls, by Damon Runyon (Short Stories; 1932)

Islands in the Stream, by Ernest Hemingway (Novel; 1970)

The Last Detail (Film; 1973)

Lawrence of Arabia (Film; 1962)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Film; 2004)

Mood Indigo, recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (Song; 1930)

Ocean’s Twelve (Film; 2004)

One, Two, Three, Gone! Or I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 238; 1963)

Santa’s Workshop (Disney Cartoon; 1932)

Shoah (Documentary Film; 2010)

The Silver Sword, by Ian Serraillier (Novel; 1956)

Sleuth (Film; 1972)

Sophie’s Choice (Film; 1982)

Swiss Family Robinson (Film; 1960)

The Tempest (Film; 2010)

Three’s a Crowd (WB MM Cartoon; 1932)

The Tourist (Film; 2010)

Wayne’s World 2 (Film; 1993)

West Side Story (Film; 2021)

Wings Over America (Live Album; 1976)

The Year Without a Santa Claus (Animated TV Special; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Angelina, Bruno, Emma, Herbert (Austria)

Edmund, Gregor, Mauro (Croatia)

Julie (Czech Republic)

Judith (Denmark)

Juta, Juudit (Estonia)

Jutta (Finland)

Eulaire, Romaric (France)

Emma, Imma, Loretta (Germany)

Judit (Hungary)

Loreto (Italy)

Cera, Guna, Judīte, Sniedze (Latvia)

Eidimtas, Eularija, Ilma, Loreta (Lithuania)

Judit, Jytte (Norway)

Andrzej, Daniel, Judyta, Julia, Maria, Radzisława (Poland)

Ermoghen, Eugraf, Mina (Romania)

Radúz (Slovakia)

Eulalia, Loreto (Spain)

Malena, Malin (Sweden)

Angeline, Marian (Ukraine)

Emely, Emilee, Emilia, Emilie, Emily, Eula, Eulalia, Ula (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 344 of 2024; 21 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 49 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 13 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Gui-Hai), Day 28 (Ren-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 27 Kislev 5784

Islamic: 27 Jumada I 1445

J Cal: 14 Zima; Sevenday [14 of 30]

Julian: 27 November 2023

Moon: 6%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 8 Bichat (12th Month) [Vieta]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 78 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 19 of 30)

[meegan-123]

3rd week of Advent we light the Pink Candle of Joy

Joy to you and yours this Christmas Season

[firstumcschenectady]

“Joy Like a Fountain” based on Isaiah 12:2-6 and Philippians 4:4-7

There is a bit of a challenge to this week. Today, on this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we have lit the candle of Joy! We have texts calling us to joy! We're meant to engage in and savor the joy of God.

But, also, we have the Long Night service this week, the time when I will tell attendees that they don't have to be joyful if they're not joyful – that God meets them where they are – that one can honor Christmas with tears as well as anything else.

For some reason I don't feel like it would be particularly authentic to preach to you today about joy, and then talk about grief and sadness on Wednesday as if they're entirely separate things.

I've been thinking about the spaces that joy and grief intermingle. I know that this perhaps a bit personal, but adoption is one of those places. Our family is profoundly joyful that we're complete, that we have a delightful baby to adore, and that our adoption is finalized. But adoption never exists in joy alone, because it is profoundly sad that birth parents cannot parent their children, and it is heartbreaking that children need to be separated from their birth parents. It can be the right thing, the best thing, the thing that brings us the most joy – and still be filled with grief.

Truthfully, many deaths are like this too. We who are left behind are aghast at the loss of loved ones, but often also relieved at the end of suffering. Sometimes, even, the one who dies has expressed being ready and waiting to go, to be joy-filled to be done, and we have to hold our grief with their joy.

A now-deceased church member, Miles Martin said all of this much better than I've been able to in his poem “Bittersweet”

“Bitter-sweet”           by Miles J Martin                                                              

In the strange dichotomy of living

The purest joys are bitter-sweet,

And happiness often lingers

Where tears and laughter meet.

Of all accumulated treasures

That crown the passing years,

Most precious are the jewels

That crystallize from tears.

Above the bitterness of parting

And the sadness of farewell,

An all-pervasive sweetness

Casts its blessed, healing spell.

Though familiar ties be severed

And old friends seldom meet,

Fondest memories intermingle

The bitter with the sweet.

Throughout this mortal journey

Where time is short and fleet,

We find that all of living

Is a blend of bitter-sweet.

The first time I took a Nonviolent Communication Course (which is sometimes called Compassionate Communication), we were asked how we were feeling after a lunch break. Luckily there were cards with emotions on them for us to look at and consider, since we were like most people and not particularly fluent with emotions. I don't remember how I was feeling, but I remember one of the teacher saying that she felt conflicted, because she was both excited about teaching us and worried that not everyone had made it back from lunch yet. I remember it because it was an ah-ha moment for me, that more than one emotion at the same time is real, valid, and even normal.

This week, we're talking about joy and sadness, and we're acknowledging that they often intermingle, and “all of living is a blend of bitter-sweet.” Now that we've acknowledged that, I feel a lot more comfortable putting the majority of our attention this morning on joy.

Our scriptures emphasize gratitude as a natural response to God's goodness. God who cares for us, God who gives us peace, God who is our strength, God who is trustworthy, God who is with us – God being God is reason enough for joy. There is truth there.

God who created brings joy. God whose creation includes waterfalls and starlit nights, sunrises and autumn colors, raspberries and coffee, the oceans and the plains, hummingbirds and blue whales is definitely a God of joy. And it turns out life itself is filled with joys, when we're able to attend to them. To eat is a joy. To drink is a joy. To move is a joy. To talk is a joy. To hear is a joy. To watch is a joy. To make meaning is a joy. To play is a joy. To create is a joy. To offer care is a joy. To receive care is a joy. And even when we can't have all of those things, most of us get many of them EVERY DAY!

When I think about sadness and grief, I'm often struck by how much grief relates to change. We grieve what we've lost and identified with – people and identities and hopes and dreams. It could be far too easy to conclude that change makes for grief, and it may even be partially true. But to return to the idea of bitter-sweet, change also looks like growth, and healing, like the fulfillment of dreams, and the letting go of identities that don't fit anymore. Change itself is bittersweet, and I think it is important to notice how it feels and what delight there can be in it.

That amazing spiritual “I've Got Peace Like a River” seems to summarize both of our scriptures and all that I've said so far. It seems worth noting that African American spirituals didn't come from times when all was well, they came from souls that knew that there was more than external realities. To be in the midst of oppression and sing “I've got peace like a river, I've got joy like a fountain, I've got love like an ocean in my soul” was to refuse the power of the oppressor to define reality. It was to make God's peace, joy, and love the centerpiece of life. It was to claim goodness, even the midst of hardness.

I have said it before, but I think it bears repeating: we are formed by what we give our attention to. In the era of social media and 24 hour news cycles it is really easy to get pulled into despair and distress. But we're called to peace, love, joy, and hope. Which requires that we give attention to goodness and God-ness too. We have to be more intentional that people who came before us, in making sure we bring our attention to the little miracles of life. Now, I'll admit it, I'm in an easier position than many to do that. I get to be awed every day at things my kids are learning, and that is an unfair advantage compared to those who don't get to do that in this era of their lives. But dear ones, I encourage you to savor the things you love – great flavors, great music, great decorations, great relationships, great fiction, great naps!

One of the best spiritual practices I know is the practice of daily examen. (Yes, I push this regularly, if you now all do this and haven't' told me yet, let me know and I'll move on.) In daily examen you get centered with God, review your day, look for the best and worst parts, share those either in a journal or with others, and then offer thanks to God for the best and the worst and everything in between. When practiced daily (or even at any regular interval) it can help us see what we're loving about life and what our constant struggles are, which can also guide us towards moving our lives towards greater joy.

More simply though, it gives us a chance to pay attention. To notice what days are bustling with little joys, or what days really weren't that hard, and mostly it gives us a chance to listen WITH God and find some delights we missed the first time around but can delight in as we reflect on them. I'm personally shocked at how often the worst part of my day is related to the best part. As previously mentioned, “We find that all of living is a blend of bitter-sweet.”

Dear ones, seek joy, savor joy, attend to joy, allow for joy. And, remember, it is human to feel multiple emotions at once. You joy won't cancel out your sadness or anger, but neither will it be canceled out. We're people of faith – we have joy like a fountain! Thanks be to God! Amen

December 15, 2024

Rev. Sara E. Baron 

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady 

603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305 

Pronouns: she/her/hers 

http://fumcschenectady.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

[dfroza]

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 13th of december 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Book of John, Chapter 14 • The Book of 2nd Samuel, Chapter 19]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 13 and Psalm 13 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 83 for the 83rd day of Astronomical Autumn, and Psalm 48 for day 348 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

A post by John Parsons:

Dates for Chanukah 2024

On the Biblical calendar the month of Kislev (כִּסְלֵו) is the ninth of the year (counting from Nisan), and also one of the "darkest," with the days progressively getting shorter and the nights getting longer. Indeed, the Winter Solstice often occurs during the last week of Kislev, and therefore the week of Chanukah (which straddles the months of Kislev and Tevet) often contains the longest night of the year. It is no wonder that, among other things, the holiday of Chanukah represents an appropriate time to kindle the lights of faith - and to remember the Light of the World in the Messiah’s advent to earth...

The Hebrew word Chanukah (חֲנוּכָּה) means "dedication" (from the root חָנַךְ) and marks an eight day winter celebration that commemorates the victory of faith over the ways of speculative reason, and demonstrates the power of the miracle in the face of mere humanism. Although it is customarily observed as a “Festival of Lights,” Chanukah is a “fighting holiday” -- a call to resist the oppression of this world and to exercise faith in the LORD (Rom. 13:12).

This year the eight days of Chanukah will begin on Wed. Dec. 25th [i.e., Christmas day] after sundown (1st candle) and will run until Wed. Jan. 1st until sundown. On the first night of Chanukah one flame is lit, on the second night two, and so on until the eighth night when eight flames are lit. In this way we remember the 'growth' of the miracle.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Psalm 36:9 Hebrew audio:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm36-9-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm36-9-lesson.pdf

Overview of Chanukah:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Winter_Holidays/Chanukah/chanukah.html

12.12.24 • Facebook

from Today’s email by Israel365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

[tglob]

ADVENT: BE MODEST, DON’T IMPERSONATE – FR. OPARA

THE GLOBE

Global Updates

ADVENT: BE MODEST, DON’T IMPERSONATE – FR. OPARA Do not think too high of yourself, be modest and do not claim whom you are not. Fr. George Opara of Holy Ghost Catholic Church Umuevu Okrikanweke Ahiazu Mbaise LGA gave the injunction in his homily marking the 3rd Sunday of Advent which coincided with the Harvest of Divine Favour: Family and Solidarity Harvest in the parish. Preaching on the theme: “Who are you?” the cleric noted that many like to place themselves higher than their status and stressed need to be humble, upright, firm and unbiased. He remarked that John the Baptist was sincere and truthful, and never lied about himself or claimed to be Christ or mightier than Christ. The clergyman observed with chagrin that many today would have bragged of whom they are, what they can do, the powers and authority they have but John was straight forward, simple and forthright. Fr. Opara bemoaned the craze for acquisition of titles that adds nothing to human righteousness and called for redress to minimize poverty, hardship, worries, anxieties, hypertension and other stress related diseases. In his text taking from John 1:6-8,19-28, Fr. Opara recounted: “When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John the Baptist, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.’ Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.’” Continuing, he said: “We should fellow the example of John – humility. Shun personal aggrandisement. Do not pride. Do not claim what you are not. Do away with impersonation. Come down from your prestigious high standing and be yourself. Keep to your level. Do not boast. Do not exaggerate. Eschew flamboyance. Be simple and Frank. No candle lights itself. Somebody must testify for you. John testified for the light, Jesus Christ. Wherever we are, bear witness for Christ like John. It is important to be humble. If you bring yourself low, God will lift you up. Jesus said in ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:11‬ ‘Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:20‬). We are preparing for Christmas – getting ready to welcome Christ. ‘Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus. Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; think before you do anything – hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil. May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 )’ Let your good works speak for you. Remember, you must render account of your stewardship on earth before God the creator.”

The First Reading was taken from Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11 “He has sent me to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord,” Responsorial Psalm – Luke 1:46-50,53-54 “My soul rejoices in my God,” Second Reading “1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 “May you all be kept safe for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Gospel Acclamation Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:18) “Alleluia, alleluia! “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor. Alleluia!” Gospel – John 1:6-8,19-28 “There stands among you the one coming after me.”

Anyanwu D.C. Ahiazu Mbaise LGA Sun-17-12-23

[persiamedie]

The 3rd Advent Sunday symbolizes Joy and call the Shepherd's candle to remind us of Joy the world felt at the birth of Jesus our Lord and Savior and Redeemer ✝️🙏

[randomtimes-com]

December 7#: Little Candles Day

Today is Little Candles Day, Día de las velitas in Spanish, a widely observed religious holiday in Colombia. It is celebrated on this day, December 7, on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, a public holiday, as well as the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the country, although the official day is the First Advent Sunday, between November 27th and December 3rd. Traditionally, on this…