Making Room

Matthew 3: 1-6

I've been outside the state of Colorado for quite some time! Thank you for the opportunity to leave unexpectedly in order to be present with my family at the passing of my grandmother. I took this time as an opportunity to be quiet (a miracle!), and slow down as we prepare for the new church year starting with the first Sunday of Advent. 

I went home, revisited family, journeyed to an incredible "farmastery" built around principles of intentional christian community, radical hospitality, contemplative spirituality, and creation care, and I visited mentors.

I've been thinking about the church a lot in ways that the hustle and bustle of being "at work" can frequently prevent these past few days. I've had conversations about the holy spirit, read invigorating accounts of what business saavy and outside-of-the box approaches to being church can lead to, and otherwise have taken in many many calming and grounding breaths about a mile closer to sea level than I have become accustomed to living in the great state of Colorado. 

And there is so much I am still digesting and pondering. 

But I have been struck by a mentor of mine's "farmastery!" So much so that I want her contemplative approach to spirituality to accompany our celebration of advent. The Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath, PhD is the abbess of a veritable slice of heaven on farmland just outside of Hillsborough, NC. 

This Advent, our worship series theme is "Housing the Holy." We can house the holy in so many ways, and have as a church on the corner of 14th and Brentwood! We have made space for the holy creative artwork of community artists, the holy labors of feeding children in Title 1 schools, the holy music making of the Colorado Children's Chorale, and the holy work of the Severe Weather Shelter Network--among so many others. 

But we must also remember that each and every one of us is a house for the holy as well. We are temples for the holy spirit of God in our bodies and souls. And we can prepare to more openly house the holy by remembering basic spiritual practices and a contemplative approach to living out our faith. 

So this Advent, after worship each Sunday from November 28 to December 26, we will be studying Dr. Heath's very simple book "Five Means of Grace." This book looks at John Wesley's own teachings on the means of grace as a route toward contemplative spirituality through the means of prayer, searching the scriptures, The Lord's Supper, Fasting, and "Christian Conferencing." 

We will start with Prayer as the first means of grace on November 28 right after worship, and our last class will be on December 26. Even if you can't attend all of the classes, I hope you might considering attending any one of them and purchasing the book. It's $10 for a hardcover copy on Amazon, and $7.50 for the kindle version.

I am so excited to be with you in this advent series as we re-enliven the story of Emmanuel coming to be with us, and as we consider ways we can make room! We will start with Jesus' wild cousin, John "the Baptist," this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you then!