December 1, 2023
Radio, Friends’ Voices, and Advent—Waiting and Arriving
I am proudly old school. I was a slow adopter to cassette tapes, and even slower to CDs and MP3s. While some rediscovered vinyl records, I never stopped listening to vinyl. I am even more committed to radio. Though I confess that at times I listen to the radio online, I still prefer over the air. This week my steadfast practice of listening to the radio was rewarded. I was surprised to hear two friends’ voices on the airwaves this past week.
On Monday I heard a familiar name and voice on the radio—familiar to you as well. It was a story about Seattle having the second highest cost of childcare in the country and what that is doing to the quality of young families’ lives and their finances. None other than our own Deeann Puffert was called in as an expert voice on that story. It is worth hearing because it helps us understand what the young families in our church are facing, and consider how we might help them and others in their situation as a ministry of our church. Deeann remains the icing on that cake. (Link to story)
The day before, on Sunday, I had heard a story about people who are advocating for—and practicing—a seven-week Advent. Episcopal priest and liturgical scholar, Bill Peterson, has been advocating for an extended Advent for about two decades now, was one of the expert voices in that story. He and I had our first conversation about this in 2006. In general I am not persuaded, but consider Bill a friend and believe his intentions are good. You can hear for yourself here. If you really want to go deeper in the weeds on this, here are some resources about this practice.
Reading what I have just written, I realize that everything I have written so far is about time and change. I am slow and methodical about change in my life. Young families are hoping for more rapid change that can bring more stability to their family life and checkbook. Some pastors and liturgists are hoping to slow things down a bit, giving people more time to contemplate the season of Advent and its message of the coming reign of God on earth. Because of our time-bound existence as human beings, time defines us. Hence we are constantly waiting for something or someone, often not knowing when it or they will come. But because we are unique, we all do it somewhat differently.
As a church, we have been in Advent mode for some time now. We have anticipated transitions, from the retirement of one pastor to the arrival of another. The first has happened; we are still waiting for the second. At the same time, we have been keeping vigil with Claire and all of the Scranton family as George Scranton’s cancer began to wear down his body. Tuesday afternoon, George finally succumbed to this disease. George’s peaceful death and the promise of George now being in the arms of his Savior—for which he longed—offers us solace in our grief.
It always happens when the Advent time finally ends, you stop. You take inventory. Is the wait truly over? Now what? We are all experiencing this is one way or another, about the many things for which we have waited; but no one more than the surviving Scrantons. So we should do what ought to be second nature to us—during and after waiting, we pray. So let us offer our prayers, our love, our support to all who grieve the loss of husband, father, grandfather, colleague, teacher, director, mentor, and friend.
In the name of our Lord, who came, who comes, and who is coming,
~ Pastor Todd