moving in advent

birds on the 

roof of the church

advent 
season is rolling
upon us
that season of the church 
when the liturgy 
the scripture 
and the hymns 
don't match the mood
most people are looking for 
when they plop down in a pew
those few weeks before 
christmas

most worshippers 
jump
started by the 
pre-decoration
of stores and malls
come 
ready to 
sing carols
and mingle in the 
stable
o n l y
to be greeted
by the other 
side of the 
word 
a d v e n t
which is the anticipation 
of christ coming 
again
a second time

advent: 
the future moves
through the present 
into the past 
and 
emmanuel 
who we call 
to come 
has and will again 

o come 
o come
emmanuel...

usually i've already 
written all the liturgy 
and have a nice 
neat theme
to step us through 
the story

but this year
the church i serve
is busy 
moving
literally

pack the boxes
kind of moving 

right in the middle of 
stewardship season 
and the calling of new leaders
and preparing for 
the season 
we are literally 
moving our church

i suppose
we are living 
our theme this year
picking up our 
things and 
tromping to the 
city to 
be counted 
and then to 
find a place 
to rest
all the while
hoping for a future

a bright new 
future

yep...
we are living 
the theme this 
year
we 
are moving.