Pregnant Pause

Writing in the Christ Church, Chattanooga newsletter, The reminder, the Rev. Jocelyn Bell notes,

One year ends, and another begins as the ceaseless round of liturgical time continues. Advent begins on November 27. The color of the season changes, we use different prayers, and begin to sing seasonal hymns as we enter this time of preparation to celebrate the coming of Christ once again. I love Advent...primarily, I think, because it is a time of such hope and longing. It touches all the depths of our hearts; it speaks to all our individual longings and desires.

Advent is a pregnant season, pregnant with new life and possibilities. I preached about it like that one year in Missouri. Afterwards, all the women in the congregation told me pregnancy stories (after all, pregnancy lasts nine months, so most women are pregnant in Advent), and the men stood around scratching their heads and wondering what i had been talking about.

But, when we pray our prayers for new life and growth here at Christ Church, are we not praying to be pregnant? Think about it. As you rejoice at the presence of our young people here on the Feast of Christ the King, pray for pregnancy.