Last Sunday evening we had a service in our church called Quiet Christmas – a chance to get away from all the noise and business, and to listen. To listen more deeply to the troubles of the world. To listen more deeply to ourselves – we particularly invited those for who Christmas is difficult. And to listen out for the one who comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re often not very good at listening – really listening. We are bombarded by sounds – and we add more of our own, through speakers and headphones and earbuds. But if our listening is all on the surface we may miss the deeper voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This poem is about these two types of listening. It\u2019s called Wachet Auf because that is the name of the music I played earlier by Bach – it means \u2018Sleeper\u2019s wake\u2019. You might have noticed the different strands in the music\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWachet Auf<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Season when<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dual citizenship<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holds us in<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Awkward tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world, intent on<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spending Christmas,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eats and drinks its way to<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oblivion after dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kingdom sounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insistent warnings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Repent, be ready,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep awake,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like some great fugue<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The themes entwine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Christmas carols,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Demanding our attention<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In shops and pubs,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bore their insistent way<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through noise of traffic;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Underneath, almost unheard,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The steady solemn theme of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With growing complexity,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clashing, blending,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rivals for our attention,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Themes mingle and separate,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pulling us with increasing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Urgency,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until in final resolution,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The end attained,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harmony rests in aweful<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stillness, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The child is born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He comes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both Child and Judge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And will he find us<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watching?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ann Lewin <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Ann Lewin is interested in the contrast between the traditional Advent themes of repentance and getting ready and the Christmas celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, the Advent challenge is to hear again what it means for Jesus to come today, and for me to welcome him. In an email the other day we were challenged to choose a word for our Advent journey and the word that came, to my surprise, was \u2018basket\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe our Advent can be a time of listening, of waiting, of being ready to receive – in the middle of everything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nBe still for a few moments<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allow the noise in your head to quieten <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Focus on your breathing – breathe more slowly, and more deeply<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might want to bring these words to mind: hush, be still – hush as you breathe in, be still as you breathe out<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If something begins to surface, hold it in the quietness – hold it before God – hold it in his loving, caring presence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is often so much noise and business in our lives – and in our heads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord, help us to be still\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Help us to listen more deeply<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lead us from the surface of things down into the deeper places<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give us courage to stay there, where we can meet you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Help us to be ready to welcome you not just at Christmas, but each day of our Advent journey<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amen<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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