from Comfort & Joy: Readings and Practices for Advent (Herald Press, 2024) Breathe deeply of the precipitous air Unfurl your shoulders turn your face toward the rising sun Allow the crisp morning air to fill your lungs Savor the quietmoment Gather what you need to face the new day -by Sherah-Leigh Gerber Consider an AdventContinue reading ““Blessing for the New Day””
Category Archives: Advent 2025
The chaos of thresholds…
from Unhappy Holidays: Blessings for a Blue Christmas (Herald Press, 2025). Thresholds are times pregnant with possibility and rife with uncertainty. Sometimes they are welcomed, even chosen, but sometimes weare forced to stand on the ledge and face the murkiness of the unknown. Advent is a threshold season. The stretch between Thanksgiving (inthe United States)Continue reading “The chaos of thresholds…”
“Releasing Expectations”
from Comfort & Joy: Readings and Practices for Advent (Herald Press, 2025) Spend some time reflecting on your own expectations for the holiday season. Since Advent can be especially busy, finding time for reflection might be challenging. However, carving out at least one time during the week when you can be alone and quiet isContinue reading ““Releasing Expectations””
The Chaos of Thresholds
from Unhappy Holidays: Blessings for a Blue Christmas (Herald Press, 2025). The act of blessing is a way of recognizing sacredness. It is a way of inviting God into all that is unfolding, into our experience both in pain and petition. The words of invocation are offerings of care and courage for you as youContinue reading “The Chaos of Thresholds”
“Preparation”
from Comfort & Joy: Readings and Praces for Advent, Herald Press, 2024. Preparation, then, is the perfect focus for this first week of reflections and practices. In Advent we prepare our hearts so that the outward signs of the season become acts of kindness and creativity instead of a frustrating list of seasonal to-dos. WeContinue reading ““Preparation””
It’s the Holiday Season…
While Advent is still 19 days away, the first signs of snow in my area make it feel like the holiday season is upon us! And there is no doubt that the swirl of activities, opportunities (and stressors) that come with the holiday season are here. For some of us, it is a wonderful timeContinue reading “It’s the Holiday Season…”
some comfort and joy 