Sunday, November 27, 2011

Advent begins today: We seek your Word embodied


For a new version of this article, click this link to Qspirit.net:
Advent: Waiting for the queer face of God

Today marks the first day of Advent, a time of expectant waiting for Christ’s birth.

Let’s celebrate the first Sunday of Advent with an excerpt from “Rite for Advent” by Chris Glaser, published in Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations:

One: The closet may be a fertile place:
creativity bursts out of a lonely hell,
and from a closet fertilized with hope,
the spirit leaps from a monastic cell.

Many: Those born in darkness
have seen life.

One: Out of dark soil sprouts new life,
from darkness springs embodied hope.
Both stretch for the illumination
of the cosmic landscape.

Many: Those born in darkness
have seen life.

One: Dear God,

Many: We seek your Word embodied
in life rooted in fertile darkness.
In life stretching for illumination,
we await your transforming Word.

___
Image credit: Advent wreath from All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California by Susan Russell

___
Related links:

Advent resources (NGLTF Institute for Welcoming Resources)

______
Chris Glaser is a gay Christian minister, activist and author of LGBT spirituality books, including Coming Out to God: Prayers for Lesbians and Gay Men, Their Families and Friends. Here is an excerpt from his “Rite for Advent,” published in Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations:

___
This post is part of the LGBTQ Calendar series by Kittredge Cherry. The series celebrates religious and spiritual holidays, events in LGBTQ history, holy days, feast days, festivals, anniversaries, liturgical seasons and other occasions of special interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people of faith and our allies.

Copyright © Kittredge Cherry. All rights reserved.
Qspirit.net presents the Jesus in Love Blog on LGBTQ spirituality.


2 comments:

Unknown said...

Haven't celebrate Advent in YEARS!

Kittredge Cherry said...

Hey, Gayte Keeper, maybe it's time for you to celebrate Advent again -- in a new way. How about making your own LGBT Nativity scene and sending us a photo? I already received some exciting images in the LGBT Nativity scene contest. They'll be posted at this blog in December.