Search results for: advent
Season 25: Episode 4 | Advent Week 4: An Invitation to Find God in Unexpected Places
In this final episode of the season, we are joined by none other than the author of Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent herself, Enuma Okoro!! Enuma joins Charity,…
Read MoreSeason 25: Episode 3 | Advent Week 3: An Invitation to the Wilderness
Charity, Jeff, and Colleen are joined this week by the Transforming Center’s ambassador and resident theologian, David Hughes. David brings a depth of wisdom and experience to this conversation. The…
Read MoreAdvent Week 3: A Time for Courage
Lectionary Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis…
Read MoreSeason 25: Episode 2 | Advent Week 2: An Invitation to Transformation in Seasons of Barrenness
Charity, Jeff, and Colleen are joined for the second week of Advent by the OG of the OGs, as far as the Transforming Center is concerned, Dalene Strieff! The episode…
Read MoreSeason 25: Episode 1 | Advent Week 1: An Invitation to a New Season in Advent
This season, as Advent falls on the heels of a contentious election season here in America and amidst the reality of war and violence around the world, we here at…
Read MoreSeason 21: Honest Advent | Week 4: Where is God in the Unfolding?
We’ve reached the end of our Advent journey. Ruth, Scott, and Charity come together one last time to wonder where God is in the darkness, the unfolding, and the journey.…
Read MoreSeason 21: Honest Advent | Week 3: Where is God in My Humanity?
Ruth, Scott, and Charity continue their journey through Advent with a conversation around Scott’s pieces, Sacred and Mighty. With these images, they explore where God is in our humanity, in…
Read MoreSeason 21: Honest Advent | Week 2: Where is God in my Vulnerability?
This week, as Ruth, Scott, and Charity examine Scott’s “cover” of Sister Grace Remington’s beautiful painting Mary and Eve, they delve into womanhood, mothering, and the invitation to embrace vulnerability…
Read MoreSeason 21: Honest Advent | Week 1: Where is God in My Uncertainty?
As we mark the first week of Advent we are examining the Annunciation. How do we define a revelation and what does it expose in us? What does a revelation…
Read MoreSeason 21: Preparing for Advent: Honest Longings, Honest Questions
Advent is upon us again. This season, we’ve invited artist, author, and speaker Scott Erickson to join us. Transforming Center team member Charity McClure is also on the microphone. Together…
Read MoreHonest Advent Artwork
Honest Advent Artwork To learn more about Scott Erickson and his work, check out his website. All of these images come from his book, Honest Advent. Episode 1: Preparing for…
Read MoreBonus: Advent 2022 Year A
We find ourselves again beginning a new Christian year with Advent. This year the lectionary finds us in Cycle A. In this episode Ruth helps us prepare for advent with…
Read MoreAdvent: Waiting for the Light
“God comes to us like the sun in the morning—when it is time.”—Carlo Carretto, The God Who Comes My favorite time of any day is the pre-dawn moments before the…
Read MoreSeason 14: Advent Week 4 | Saying Yes to God
This season we invite you to walk through Advent by engaging with the lectionary Scripture readings and listening for what God might want to say through them. In each episode,…
Read MoreSeason 14: Advent Week 3 | A Call to Repentance
This season we invite you to walk through Advent by engaging with the lectionary Scripture readings and listening for what God might want to say through them. In each episode,…
Read MoreSeason 14: Episode 2 | Advent Week 2 | Necessary Preparations
This season we invite you to walk through Advent by engaging with the lectionary Scripture readings and listening for what God might want to say through them. In each episode,…
Read MoreSeason 14: Episode 1 | Advent Week 1 | The Darkness of Waiting
This season we invite you to walk through Advent by engaging with the lectionary Scripture readings and listening for what God might want to say through them. In each episode,…
Read MoreUpdated Advent Reflections For Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary
This beautiful 40 page Advent resource written by Ruth Haley Barton is designed to help individuals, spiritual friends, small groups and even congregations walk through the four Sundays of Advent…
Read MoreAdvent Liturgies for Families
Growing up, I remember the anticipation leading up to Christmas. I remember the surprise of gifts, I remember the joy of family, and maybe more than anything, I remember Christmas as…
Read MoreSeason 11: Episode 4 | Advent: Mary and the Prayer of Indifference
Join Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins for spiritual encouragement based on this year’s Advent Reflections (Cycle B) with an episode for each week of Advent. This podcast season is designed to…
Read MoreSeason 11: Episode 3 | Advent: Keepin’ it Real
Join Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins are definitely keepin’ it real. Listen and discover what is so far in the rear view mirror for Ruth. Based on this year’s Advent Reflections (Cycle…
Read MoreSeason 11: Episode 2 | Advent: What Sort of Persons Ought We To Be?
Join Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins for spiritual encouragement based on this year’s Advent Reflections (Cycle B) with an episode for each week of Advent. This podcast season is designed to…
Read MoreSeason 11: Episode 1 | Advent: Living Between Two Worlds
Happy New Year! Advent marks the beginning of the church year. Join Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins for spiritual encouragement based on this year’s Advent Reflections (Cycle B) with an episode…
Read MoreInvitation to Advent: Leaders in Liminal Space
This week, we release our Advent podcast season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast! If you’ve already signed up for our mailing list, you’ll get a notification for…
Read MoreAdvent Year C
Advent Year C Lectionary Calendar Read more about the practice of using the lectionary Advent Year C First reading Psalm Second reading Gospel First Sunday of Advent (December 2, 2018)Jeremiah…
Read MoreSpecial Episode | Discovering Advent
The seasons of the church year are meant to teach us essential truths of the spiritual life, offering us an opportunity to practice some of the key disciplines of our…
Read MoreAdvent: Leaders in Waiting
Lectionary Readings for the first week of Advent: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37 Click for complete Advent calendar (CycleB) and guidance on using the lectionary.…
Read MoreAdvent 1: The Importance of Waking Up
Lectionary readings for November 27, 2016: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Rom 13:11-14; Matt 24:36-44 Click for complete Advent calendar (Cycle A) and guidance on using the lectionary. “God comes to us like…
Read MoreAdvent 2016: Enlarged in the Waiting
“Of all types of waiting, the waiting of pregnancy is most like the waiting that we do during Advent. The waiting of pregnancy is like the waiting we do for…
Read MoreEntering Advent: Hurry Up and Wait!
Lectionary readings for November 29, 2015: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Psalm 25: 1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21: 25-36 Click for complete Advent calendar (Cycle C) and guidance on using the lectionary. “Unto you, O Lord,…
Read MoreAdvent – An Invitation to Wait on God
Lectionary readings for the first Sunday of Advent (Cycle B). Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37 Click for complete Advent calendar (Cycle B) and guidance on using…
Read MoreAdvent 4: Joseph And The Walk Of Faith
Lectionary Readings for December 22, 2013: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7,17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Advent Calendar (Cycle A) and guidance for using the lectionary “Sooner or later, if we follow…
Read MoreAdvent 3: Gifts In The Wilderness
Lectionary Readings for December 15, 2013: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Advent Calendar (Cycle A) and guidance for using the lectionary “The desert of which I speak…
Read MoreAdvent 2: Joyful Preparations
If you are joining us for week 2, you might want to also access other eReflections in this Advent series: Read Advent 1—The Importance of Waking up Lectionary readings for Dec 08, 2013: Is…
Read MoreAdvent 1: The Importance of Waking Up
Lectionary readings for Dec 01, 2013. Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Rom 13:11-14; Matt 24:36-44 Click for complete Advent calendar (Cycle A) and guidance on using the lectionary. “God comes to us like…
Read MoreAdvent 4: Saying Yes to God
Lectionary Readings for December 22, 2012: Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary In the fourth week of Advent…
Read MoreAdvent 3: A Time for Courage
Lectionary Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis…
Read MoreAdvent 2: He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
Lectionary Readings for December 9, 2012: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary The lectionary readings for this second Sunday…
Read MoreAdvent 1: Season of Desire
Lectionary Readings for December 2, 2012: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; I Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary Apparently American consumerism has reached a new low.…
Read MoreSeasons of Transformation: Advent 2012
The seasons of the church year are meant to teach us something about the spiritual life we need to learn. Beyond mere information about the spiritual life, they offer us the…
Read MoreAdvent 4: Mary and the Prayer of Indifference
Lectionary readings for December 18, 2011: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11,16; Luke 1:46b-55; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be…
Read MoreAdvent 3: Keepin’ it Real
Lectionary readings for December 11, 2011: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John…he himself was…
Read MoreAdvent 2: Preparing the Way: Making Confession
Lectionary readings for December 4, 2011: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8 “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the…
Read MoreAdvent 1: The Darkness of Waiting
Read these Lectionary readings for November 27, 2011: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9; Mark 13:24-37 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be…
Read MorePreparing for Advent
During Advent we wait for the coming of Christ not only in the ancient world of the Biblical story, but in our own lives now. As is our tradition, we…
Read MoreAdvent 4: Joseph and the Walk of Faith
Lectionary readings for December 19, 2010: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7; 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 “Sooner or later, if we follow Christ we have to risk everything in order to…
Read MoreAdvent 3: Gifts in the Wilderness
For December 12, 2010 Ruth Haley Barton “The desert of which I speak is a desert of the spirit: a place of revelation, conversion, and transformation. A true revelation is…
Read MoreAdvent 2: Necessary Preparations
For December 12, 2010 Ruth Haley Barton “Our spiritual life depends on His perpetual coming to us, far more than our going to him. Every time a channel is made…
Read MoreAdvent 1: The Importance of Staying Awake
“You will find the living God in the pages of the Bible. You will find him also just exactly where you are.” Mother Frances Dominica Guidance for your Lectionary reading,…
Read MoreBeginning Again… With Advent
When we submit our lives to what we read in Scripture, we find that we are not being led to see God in our stories but our stories in God’s.…
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