NORTHEASTERN
SEMINARY BLOG

Our prayer for you this Christmas Day.

In the final entry of this blog series dedicated to the many manifestations of the season of anticipation, Dr. Elizabeth Gerhardt opens our hearts to the mystery and wonder of Advent.

Alumnus Thomas Worth wrote this poem in 2012 as part of a personal Advent tradition. This time of year naturally invites us to reminisce on memories of seasons past. In his poem, Thomas recalls moments of encountering Emmanuel as a child.

This Advent reflection was originally published in the 2010 Community of the Savior’s annual Advent meditations booklet where Elizabeth Guckenbiehl-Lang attends church.

For many of us, “waiting” has negative connotations. Waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting on hold as we call for a needed service or medical appointment, or waiting for a test result … the list goes on and on. Often, such waiting is accompanied by frustration, irritation, or impatience.

Space to ask questions.
Space to listen to God’s Spirit.
Space to let insights, impressions, and reflections
bump into each other and converge for discovery.
Space for your own spirit to be still, restore, integrate,
and seek elements of faith in the certainty of God’s presence.

In 2014, Esther Gillie first shared this poem with the Northeastern Seminary community. Since then, Esther has successfully completed both her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees at the Seminary. The second entry of our Advent blog series invites us to reflect, along with Esther, on the gentleness experienced throughout our lives.

 The poem “ADVENT” was first shared with us in 2014 by Jae Newman, a Northeastern Seminary alumnus and adjunct professor. This poem is the first entry in our advent blog series of poetry and reflections surrounding this the season of anticipation in the Christian liturgical year. Here in the first few days of advent let us collectively still our souls to hear the quiet whispers of our Lord.

As it is written in the book of Isaiah, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Luke 3:4