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This past Sunday, Maddie continued our sermon series "Advent through the Gospel of Luke" by preaching about the story of Anna and Simeon. One of the themes we explored through that story is that waiting is never neutral. While we wait, something is always shaping us.
In the story of Simeon and Anna, Luke shows us two people who have waited a very long time — and who have somehow not become numb, cynical, or closed off. They are able to recognize God when God shows up quietly, not because they are unusually holy or spiritually gifted, but because they’ve practiced showing up, praying, and paying attention over time. So this week’s resources are meant to help us practice the kind of waiting that keeps us open. A Simple Prayer Rhythm: The Book of Common Prayer The Book of Common Prayer is a collection of set prayers that has been used by Christians for centuries, and it’s still prayed today by a surprisingly wide range of people. It’s used by Episcopalians and Anglicans around the world — but it’s also used by people who didn’t grow up with liturgy at all. People pray the Book of Common Prayer today because:
This kind of prayer fits beautifully with the story of Anna and Simeon. Like them, it’s about showing up consistently, even when nothing dramatic seems to be happening. It’s about trusting that returning — again and again — keeps our hearts from closing. If you’re curious, you don’t need to do everything. Even praying a single psalm or the Lord’s Prayer once a day is enough. The point isn’t perfection — it’s presence. You can find a free online version of the book here or you can buy a copy here. Practicing Attention Through Poetry: Mary Oliver Alongside prayer, poetry can help train us in attention. This week, we recommend reading a poem by Mary Oliver, especially “Why I Wake Early”. Oliver’s poems don’t rush toward answers. They linger. They notice. They stay with what is small, ordinary, and easily overlooked. That kind of noticing is spiritual work. Simeon recognizes salvation in a baby. Anna recognizes redemption in a moment most people would have missed. Poetry helps us slow down enough to notice what we might otherwise pass by. You might try reading one poem slowly this week. Don’t analyze it. Just notice what line stays with you. Let it accompany you through your day. Advent doesn’t promise that our waiting will end quickly. But it does promise that our waiting is not empty. As we practice prayer and attention — as we keep showing up — we become the kind of people who can recognize God when God comes near quietly, humbly, without spectacle. That’s the kind of hope we’re practicing together this season.
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In her sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Alison shared an excerpt from Sarah Bessey's thought-provoking essay "Why Everything You Know About the Nativity is Probably Wrong." If you found Bessey's perspective to be interesting or helpful to you, we think you will appreciate learning more about her and engaging with more of her work! In this week's post, we want to share some more information about who Sarah Bessey is and where you can find her online. Who Is Sarah Bessey? Here is how Bessey introduces herself in her own words: "All right, let’s do the ‘official stuff’: My latest book, Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith (2024) was a USA Today, The Globe and Mail, Indie Book, McNally Robinson, Bookshop.org, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller. I’m also the author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed books Jesus Feminist (2013); Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith (2015); and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things (2019). My collaborative book, A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal (2021) was also a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and The Globe and Mail Bestseller. I write a weekly bestselling newsletter called Field Notes with exclusive essays, devotional series, conversations, and more. You can sign up for Field Notes here. Along with my friends, the late Rachel Held Evans and Jim Chaffee, I co-founded Evolving Faith. And I was also the co-host of The Evolving Faith Podcast with my friend Jeff Chu, which has been downloaded by millions of listeners worldwide. After seven years at the helm, I stepped away from that leadership role in 2024 but Evolving Faith is still going strong. You might have come across my work anywhere from an article in a magazine or newspaper to a favourite podcast, perhaps the occasional conference or church event, or maybe even my one-time blog back in the day. However you got here, I’m glad you’re here. I was born and raised in the prairies and foothills of western Canada. We lived in Oklahoma, Texas, and British Columbia over the years, but have returned home to Calgary, Alberta, Canada (on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in southern Alberta and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3). This is where my soul belongs. My husband Brian and I have been happily married for 24 years (he’s Nebraskan so we are all contractually obligated to say, 'Go Big Red!' when that comes up in conversation). Together, we have four beloved children, formerly known as The Tinies (the older three are all taller than me now, it’s fine) who range from young adults/teenagers to a little middle schooler. We also have two cats named Amy and Rory and yes, they were absolutely named after Doctor Who companions." Where Can I Find Bessey's Work?
This past Sunday, we spent time with Mary’s Magnificat — her bold, beautiful song in Luke 1 where she praises God, confronts injustice, and imagines a world transformed by mercy. Mary’s song is courageous, disruptive, and full of hope for a world made right.
Because Mary responds to God with music, we spent part of worship listening to contemporary songs that help us enter her emotional and spiritual landscape. This week’s Resource of the Week is the full playlist, organized into five movements that mirror the structure of the Magnificat and bring its themes into our world today. Below is a guide to how these songs illuminate different parts of Mary’s song. Songs of Vulnerability and Honest Fear “He has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.” Before Mary sings about justice, she is still a young woman facing something overwhelming. These songs help us hear the Magnificat beginning from a place of fragility and courage held together:
These tracks echo Mary’s emotional landscape: stretched thin, uncertain, longing for assurance, and trying to take the next faithful step. Songs of Courage, Consent, and Praise “My soul magnifies the Lord . . . the Mighty One has done great things for me.” Mary’s praise is the praise of someone who has counted the cost and still says “yes.” These songs capture that complicated, forward-leaning trust:
Each of these songs reflects gratitude that lives alongside uncertainty, and the quiet bravery of stepping into a future led by God. Songs That Expose the World’s Love of Power “He has scattered the proud . . . brought down the powerful from their thrones.” Mary’s song includes a clear critique of systems of domination. These songs help us hear her words not as metaphor, but as a real challenge to the world as it is:
These tracks highlight the patterns of pride, control, and exploitation that Mary insists God disrupts. Songs of Liberation and Hope for a New World “He has lifted up the lowly . . . filled the hungry . . . sent the rich away empty.” The Magnificat is a song of liberation — a vision of a world turned right-side-up. These songs echo that longing for justice, healing, and freedom:
Each track helps us feel the Magnificat’s hope that oppression will not have the last word. Songs of Communal Struggle and God’s Promise “He has remembered his mercy . . . according to the promise made to our ancestors.” Mary’s song is not just personal. It is part of a long story of people crying out for God’s justice. These songs connect the Magnificat to global movements for liberation—especially the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
This Week’s Invitation As you move through Advent, let these songs accompany you. Play them while you cook, commute, rest, or pray. Let them help you inhabit Mary’s courage, her honesty, her longing, and her vision for a world remade by God’s mercy and justice. May these songs deepen your hope, broaden your compassion, and open your imagination to the upside-down kingdom Mary proclaims. |
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