Join Rev Martha

THIS SUNDAY--

for An Advent Retreat Evening!

Divine Invitation:  A Retreat to Prepare for the Winter Feasts

Sunday, November 26th from 4 pm-8 pm at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 16 Washington Street, Cumberland.

In the Christian tradition, Advent and Christmas mark the time of the Incarnation, the coming of God into the world as the child Jesus.  The term “incarnation” literally means to be embodied in the flesh.  As such, the divine honors and blesses the earthly, fleshy life we each live.  The divine also calls to us in the midst of our lives.  The season of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, is a time to set aside to listen for the divine presence in our lives.

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Rev Martha will be present with you to set aside time to practice listening for the divine presence in your life.  We will gather as evening falls at Emmanuel for meditations led by Rev Martha as well as a potluck dinner together.  There will be times of quiet in the church as well as fellowship at the table.

Bring a Thanksgiving favorite to share.  Donations for the retreat are encouraged.  Rev Martha will use these donations to support area initiatives like the Community Cafe as well as be able to continue her soul space meditations.  For those unable to join us, a form of the meditation themes will be available on the soul space website during the four weeks of Advent in December.

So why might you come to a retreat in this busy holiday season?

Here's why I do......

Growing up in an Episcopal Girls’ school as well as an Episcopal Church, I always felt that there was a moment after the frenetic preparations of Thanksgiving with travel to relatives, canned goods at the school chapel and a splash of singing “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” when we stopped and paused. Somewhere after Thanksgiving, there were a few days of quiet before another all-out blitz of shopping, wrapping, visiting, rehearsals, Christmas services and events and more traveling.  I’m not sure I really knew what Advent was back then—only we sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” at school chapel and in junior choir.  At home, I began to notice touches of greenery in the house and the smell of pine began to fill the air.  Green wreaths appeared on our front doors along with the little boxwood Christmas tree on the front hall table and the boxwood ball hanging on the arch with mistletoe.

Each day there was quiet preparation for the annual Christmas party at our house and the family Christmas dinner at Aunt Sadie and Uncle Dick’s.  But everything seemed unrushed and filled with quiet anticipationg. Back then, there was no Black Friday shopping.  Just a quiet pattern of preparation.  Daddy marinating the limes and lemons for the St Cecilian Punch. My mother taken the Smithfield Ham to be brined and working away in her sewing room with special projects to be revealed on Christmas Day. That is what Advent and the beginning of winter are really all about--quiet preparation and waiting.   The garden gives us a good hint too. In late fall, we prepare the ground to lie fallow and plant a few bulbs and seed in the ground for the spring and then just sit back and let creation do its work underground.  For us, it is a time to sit back too and, in the midst of a world gone wild around us, see what invitation the Divine has in store for us in the new year.  Nothing to act on immediately. Just to notice.  And be amazed at what companions of light travel with us in the darkening season.  We just have to pause for a little bit to notice. In the dark with a few candles and friends for the journey.

Please join me Sunday on the journey to carve out some time just to notice and receive the invitation!

Rev. Martha

Please let me know you are coming....email me at soulspacecumberland@gmail.com. That helps me have copies of the meditation and plenty of cider ready! Donations can be brought to the event.