A Special Time...

Dear Faith Family,   

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent."
(Psalm 30:11-12a) 

It's hard to believe we are on the home stretch of Advent! Kids get out of school in just a day or two, then, before you know it, the morning that has garnered so much of our attention, efforts, and even anxiousness over the last month will finally be here! 

While much of life in this season seems too swift, it is even more true of the final sprint to Christmas morning. In every good story and song, the pace quickens, building to the crescendo, which is why I want to invite you to join me in an Advent practice we started a few years ago. A habit meant to help us do what we've been doing all month: slow down and consider Jesus Arrived, again, this Christmas. 

In the first centuries after Christ's resurrection, our faith forerunners developed a custom of praying seven great prayers to call afresh on Jesus to "come." These prayers are prayed without our customary designations for Christ; instead, they address Jesus by titles found in the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah: "O Wisdom!" "O Root of Jesse!" "O Emmanuel!" etc. They called these prayers the "O Antiphons," for they are sung as much as prayed. Seven brief songs call us into the crescendoing anticipation of our salvation, needed and provided in the advent of Jesus. 

The O Antiphones officially began tomorrow (the 17th), thus the special early email(!), and will continue through the 23rd. What makes this year special is that while we (per usual) post these brief hymns in the app and on the website under Collective Prayers, we will also be sending you a text message each day with the O Antiphon included. 

Beginning tomorrow morning around 9:00 AM, you will receive a text from 469-718-8770. This is our "Christ City #," so be sure to save this number in your phone. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you don't receive the text but would like to, please don't hesitate to let me know. 

May our souls slow down even as the days speed up, as we consider Jesus Arrived. 

Love you, faith family**. Happy Advent, Merry Christmas, and God bless!