Advent Poetry, 10am Sunday!

The Poetry of Advent Description: For three weeks we will be taking a look at encounters with Christ as told in the story of the nativity. Over the centuries writers, painters, performers, and musicians have dramatized these encounters in compelling ways. Our focus will particularly emphasize the rich poetic heritage of advent by examining a few of the Christ encounters as they have been imaginatively represented in verse. As companion pieces to the poems, we will read passages from the Christmas story to help us understand the messages and meanings from both the literature of the Bible itself and the literature it has inspired. Our hope is that these writings will urge us to more fully reflect on the profoundimpact that the coming of God's son into the world has hadon both our cultural heritage and our eternal condition. 


Session 1: November 28, 2010 Topic: Mary Poems: Yeats, "The Mother of God"; Shaw, "Mary's Song";Donne, "Nativity" Biblical Text: Luke 1: 39-56 (Read Mary's song inAuthorized Version) 


Session 2: December 5, 2010 Topic: The Magi & the Shepherds Poems: Crashaw, "A Hymn of the Nativity, sung by the Shepherds"; Madeleine L'Engle, "The Wise Men" Biblical Text: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:8-20 


Session 3: December 12, 2010 Topic: Ourselves Poems: Southwell, "The Burning Babe" and "The Nativity of Christ"; Milton, "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity"; MacDonald, "That Holy Thing" Biblical Text: Luke 2:21-39