Last evening, Cliff and I sat in front of the fire after dinner and listened to Gerard Chiusano’s Maranatha, a compilation of Advent music. Our tree twinkled in the front window; lights hang in other windows; manger scenes are dotted around the house among the collections of Santa Clauses and angels.

We felt, you could clearly say, melancholy, remembering Christmases past. This is the first year in more than twenty years we haven’t held Advent and Christmas services.  We knew in May, when we lost the space where we’d held services for ten years, Advent would be difficult if we hadn’t found a new space for our community.

And yet, Advent comes. We lighted the first of the Advent candles last weekend; this Second Sunday of Advent, we will gather our community to feast and laugh and visit, and we will light the second candle.

Maranatha, we long for…