Saturday, December 13th
Gospel Reading Matthew 11
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Reflection:
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger writes, “Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…
It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.”
Questions for reflection:
What healing memories of the Christmas season do you have? What painful memories of this time of year do you have? What would it look like for you to trust God to hold you and care for you, memories and all, during this season?
Sunday, December 14th
Scripture: Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Reflection:
During this advent season, the church has had a long-standing tradition of going caroling to people in their homes. Many people, both singers and those who welcome the singers, recount being both inspired and moved by the singing of familiar songs. Jennifer Milne remembers, one time, driving the Bonamicos in their mini van to Myrtle McCloud’s mother’s house. The driveway was slippery. When they left Jennifer came close to hitting the telephone pole at the end of the driveway.
Questions for reflection:
What memories do you have of music during the Christmas season? How has music shaped your experience of the birth of Christ among us?
First Presbyterian Church (USA) 
Church youth choir gave me a good foundation in music that has continued to be important throughout my life. One year during advent, we sang as an introit before the choir procession: Let all mortal flesh keep silent. . .Our voices floated out over the congregation with a hush, singers unseen in the back. We started the first Sunday with just one verse and adding another verse each Sunday, built up to a mighty crescendo of ‘Lord Most High.’ It was mysterious; it was magical; it was powerful. It was memorable.