The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:1‭-‬10 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/isa.35.1-10.NRSV

This hasn’t happened in a while but nobody came this morning. The advent candles were lit…

The leaflets were printed and the crib was set up…

But only me.

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
James 5:7‭-‬10 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/jas.5.7-10.NRSV

A full pot of coffee to myself and a warm room.

We usually pray, read the liturgy, chat about what we have read and its impact then we pray again. Sometimes we sing.

Matthew 11: 2-11 (2022)

If I had been able to share I would have said something about how I have come to see that God speaks to us all the time and his speaking in the stillness and the absence is as profound as when we hear him and feel his guidance. He is never not guiding us, pouring out speech day by day drawing us to his loving presence. His ever flowing message to us is, come to me! Advent is a celebration of Christ’s dawning, in history, in our hearts and to the end of the ages. And we wait, not limiting God, knowing he is drawing us in doing good, serving the weak and caring for the needy; he delights us in song, art and words; he enlarges our hearts through justice and mercy as we hunger and thirst for righteousness.

It is a beautiful morning this morning. Just saying…