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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
. . . and the stars will be falling from heaven.<\/p>\n
MARK 13:25<\/cite><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apocalyptic stars make a grand appearance in the lectionary texts for the First Sunday of Advent. I was reminded of these Advent stars when I walked in my neighborhood a few nights ago. A crescent moon wandered up beneath two twinkling luminaries, and I thought about humanity\u2019s longings for light in \u00a0nighttime places.<\/p>\n 2020 has been a year of uncertainties. Many stars we thought forever anchored in place seem to be falling or wavering.<\/p>\n In the midst of so many long-standing and unprecedented uncertainties, I have been grateful for connecting with colleagues, friends, and family members, even if only by Zoom, and for opportunities to consider anew the gifts of God\u2019s good creation. Many glittering granules of community have filled me with Spirit-hope.<\/p>\n Even as we wait with restless longing during this Advent season, may we take time to say \u201cthank you\u201d for the bits and pieces of light we have had a chance to catch and share across these strange pandemic months.<\/p>\n I wish you blessings as we begin another Advent season.<\/p>\n \u201cThe stars are falling\u2013\u201d A rocking, smiling moon \u201cShe will hold the pieces,\u201d I said \u201cThe stars are falling\u2013\u201c <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" . . . and the stars will be falling from heaven. MARK 13:25 Apocalyptic stars make a grand appearance in the lectionary texts for the First Sunday of Advent. I was reminded of these Advent stars when I walked in my neighborhood a few nights ago. A crescent moon wandered up beneath two twinkling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":53978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[3119],"tags":[464,3467,61,3468],"class_list":["post-53975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-plaza-new-ws","tag-advent","tag-crescent-moon","tag-prayer","tag-stars"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nwas she asking or announcing?
\n\u201ca sign of the times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nslid beneath the stars\u2013
\nto catch them, perhaps,
\nas they tumble
\nthrough turbulent times
\nto a light-hungry earth?<\/p>\n
\nand smiled back at the hopeful moon\u2013
\nbent on cradling the aching light
\nuntil she is full\u2013
\none more time.<\/p>\n
\nwas she asking or announcing?
\n\u201ca sign of the times.\u201d<\/p>\n