Here is a short refrain that was composed for Advent 2022, but I think we only sang it at Pillar once or twice, so it will probably feel new! The text is drawn from a fifth century liturgy called the Gelasian Sacramentary. O Lord, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our hearts by the light of your … Read More
A Little Child Shall Lead Them
In Isaiah 11, we hear of a promised ruler—“a shoot” who will “come out from the stump of Jesse,” and of the “peacable kingdom” he will establish. In this kingdom, predator and prey will settle down in calm company: the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion will … Read More
Comfort
*invitation: Read Isaiah 40:1-11 “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1). Isaiah the prophet meets us with words of comfort, words of comfort from God himself. Here’s a dictionary definition to help our imaginations come alive to Isaiah’s heart. Comfort. A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. The easing or alleviation of a … Read More
Walking in Darkness, Looking for light
Isaiah gives voice to our Advent hope, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” I’ve been reading a book titled “Bittersweet” by author Susan Cain. In the book, she acknowledges a deep admiration for musician Leonard Cohen who wrote the wildly popular, 1984 hit song, “Hallelujah.” He sings his “Hallelujah” in very minor key, it’s “Hallelujah” … Read More
Hello Message
Welcome back to this little corner of the life of Pillar Church. Throughout you will find some explorations of our season’s theme that Pastor Jon will introduce in the following pages as well as some other words and images to help us settle into our Advent longing, waiting, and hoping. And at its best, this journal is an interactive experience. … Read More
Advent resources
Books: Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas (Plough Publishing House) Rise Up Shepherd: Advent Reflections on the Spirituals, Luke Powry Advent, Tish Harrison Warren Liturgical/Prayer Resources: Isaiah IX, Bellwether Arts O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany, Jonathan Gibson Music: Poor Bishop Hooper, Firstborn Wilder Adkis, Nativity The Lower Lights, … Read More