ADVENT QUIET MORNING

This morning, I presided over my annual Advent Quiet Morning prayer service. The 2023 version of AQM was one of the most difficult to put together, but I think it was ultimately one of the best presentations. The content was probably the most "conservative" of those I've put together but I think that worked in its favor. It was also the most structured version of AQM, with each of the three sets structured in the same manner: song stanza, scripture passage, devotion/reflection, prayer, poem as part of each.

I used the three verses of the carol "What Child Is This" as the departure point and (loosely) built upon them.

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The set lists:

Mother

• Verse one of "What Child Is This."
• Psalm 139:13-16.
• "Vulnerability" from Honest Advent by Scott Erickson.
• "Prayer for Women Who Endured Abortions" from A Book of Uncommon Prayer by Brian Doyle.
• "A Penitent Considers Another Coming of Mary" by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Manger

• Verse two of "What Child Is This."
• Luke 13:31-35.
• "Jesus Our Mother" from Unscheduled Grace by Katherine Fleck and Matthew Marohl.
• "God Became a Child" from God Is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
• "The Infant Jesus of Prague" by Paul Claudel.

Myrrh

• Verse three of "What Child Is This."
• Matthew 2:10-12.
• "Christmas Joy" by Emmy Arnold, as found in Watch for the Light.
• "As a Child Enters the World" from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue.
• "Star of the Nativity" by Joseph Brodsky.

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There was a joint baby shower for three young couples who are expecting infants in December and/or January that followed a couple of hours later in the church. The theme of Advent Quiet Morning was selected prior to this event being scheduled, but the connection was perfect!