Advent Week 1: HOPE. Can you believe it's here?

Friday, November 26, 2021

We have a pretty basic supper: avocados on toast. It hits the spot. W slathers his with mayonnaise as usual. Mine is heaped with vegetables.

I feel like a little something-something would jazz up the kitchen so I hang garlands and small wreaths on two of the old windows. The decades-old teak is beautiful and outlasts most kinds of wood that crumble under termites and other critters over the years.

I picked up some tinsel garlands last week. Today we notice that the bulletin board at BIC is faded and drooping. No one will notice ... unless we leave it. Alice and I pull off the old papers and do a quick revision with stuff on hand.

The groomers show up and make the poodles pretty again after their romp through the woods yesterday. Cocoa (standard) loves being groomed. She's always pleased with herself after her "do."

Bailey (mini) is perky and ready to romp after he's done.

He runs out of steam after circling a few times and lies down at my feet for a snooze.

Saturday

We check the hall one last time. All is ready. W and the media team spend the afternoon getting the new equipment geared up.

With such wide spacing, people can't use the chair next to them for bags and purses. (An Indonesian habit requires twice the number of chairs as persons: no one willingly puts purses or backpacks on the floor or table.) What to do? W orders S-hooks and I tag them using cardboard from an old pizza box.

I hang them on the chair backs in the hall.

The invitations have gone out. Let's see how it goes.

On a completely different topic, mangosteen or manggis is one of my favorite Indonesian fruits. It tastes like a combination of cherry and Asian pear, with a bit of lemon. It's exterior is unappealing, a thick leathery hide.

But when you pull off the stem and squeeze the purple skin, it opens up to the most delicious surprise. The texture of the edible seed pods is like lychee. And the contrast of purple-red and creamy white is gorgeous.

I mix up some breakfast cookies and put them in the freezer until they're cold. Then they sit frozen in a Tupperware square until we can't think of what to eat. Morning or evenings ... they're tasty and nutritious. These have chia, flax seed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and hazelnuts, besides the oats, honey, vanilla, and peanut butter, 

In the kitchen, the framed chocolate box makes me smile. Our youngest son gifted us with Trader Joe's Christmas special one year: a 4-lb bar of Belgian chocolate. We made a lot of chocolate chip cookies with that one before I framed the box. (The painting below it is a quick watercolor from the first time I met "dragon fruit" in Singapore. Another beautiful food.)

Sunday, Advent Week 1

When I wake at 3:00, I listen to YouVersion, a reading of the gospel of John. Jesus talks about himself and his heavenly Father to the disciples. I'm enthralled by the stories of the Good Shepherd (John 10), the Holy Spirit sent to comfort and help (14), Jesus the Vine and we the Branches (15), and the prayer of Jesus over his followers (17). Sometime after that, either the reader times out at one hour or I fall asleep. Maybe both.

In the BIC hall and at home, it's time to light the first candle of Advent, named HOPE. Elsewhere in the house, the Christmas lights go on today. The tree and long shelf have been lit for over a week.

The 3'x5' white metal screen glows on the dining wall.

There's a new lantern, too, a gift from a friend last Christmas.

The tall vase is filled with pinecones and starry lights.

Today is a big day for the international church, the in-person, soft launch of Advent. It's our first gathering since March 2020. If we have planned well, it will seem effortless and go smoothly. 

But is the Presence of God among us? That's what I long for, most of all. I get up about 5:00 to package IbuA's banana bread.

"God, you who do small and great things," I start to pray, "how will you show us you are with us today?" (Do you ever stop to ponder the small miracles of God's answers? Sometimes we just run right by, don't we?)

In the early morning kitchen, the roll of tape is almost empty in my hands. I begin to pack up the baking and send up a prayer: "Would you let this roll last long enough to fasten all 60 bags? I somehow need assurance that you're in this and will oversee the details of the morning."

It feels like a silly prayer, so I whisper, "You don't have to, of course. It's just that it would be reassuring for me to have this little miracle happen this morning."

One bag after another is taped shut. As I seal the last bag, the roll of tape catches. It's done. Habis (finished).

I stop. Say thank you. And my heart is quieted. All is well. All will be well.

And it is. I ponder how many times I have missed these "small" answered prayers, ignoring the Presence among us, or taking for granted the Peace in our homes and hearts. Today I stop in gratitude and worship.

Often when I plan events, I get a number in my head of how many will attend. It's nearly always within 2 or 3 attendees. (Can you imagine how helpful that was when I was planning university reunions as an alumni director?) Today's number is 50. Originally we'd thought maybe 20-30 would come. But I've come to trust that voice. And it says "plan for 50."

And about 50 people show up, including some newcomers.

It's disconcerting to speak from behind a mask and a clear face shield. The worship band says the same: "We had a hard time singing with the mikes." But they persevere. We have a punch list of improvements for next time, of course.

There's a lot added to the regular event planning: handing out masks and shields, filling a few more Advent bags, printing kids activity pages and finding crayons and pastels. My admin Alice is a jewel - she outdoes herself. Especially since the regular Sunday helper who sets up the hall is absent this weekend.

The hard work of many volunteers - decorating and cleaning the hall, setting up sinks and tables, those who greet, and other helpers - makes it feel natural, like "it should be so." Well done, everyone. And special thanks to those who prayed over us this weekend.

Read more:

*Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Psakn 17:7

*May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

*Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Moravian Prayer: Redeeming God, we pray your steadfast love is a refuge amidst a world weighed down by the burden of adversaries and turmoil, making holy the tenderness found in lasting peace. In your blameless name, we pray. Amen.