Bathtub 02/15/2022
Tag: alexis elizabeth lynch
Advent Devotional: 2nd Sunday
A few years ago I began writing Advent devotionals for my family and friends to use. I am personally agnostic but as a child/teenager was raised in the Christian faith. I still enjoy the tradition of the Advent wreathe, and light the candles year to year. Each devotional is specific to the particular theme of the week, and includes Bible verses, prayers, and Christmas carols to sing or listen to. Depending on the specific branch of Catholicism, the theme of each week in Advent varies slightly. I made a personal and Executive decision in choosing which theme to go with for the particular week, while trying to keep it as accurate as possible. These are meant to help those along who want to do something “more” during their lighting, or who don’t have any other material to refrence from. It can be printed off and read together as a group, or done alone. I hope you enjoy.
(Advent Week 2, Second Sunday)
-The “Bethlehem Candle”. Representing faith, preparation, & prophecy.
-Light the first purple candle from last week. Now light the second purple candle. Hold hands (if you want to) and do the readings.
-The themes of the second week of Advent are ones of prophecy, anticipation, and preparation. Prophecies prepared, taught, warned and encouraged people about important events, usually related to their faith. It is about having faith when you are surrounded by mystery and doubt, and a miracle appearing in our life when we least expect it. We have open eyes and yearning hearts, that this might be the Advent to realize the promise of our faith, and to prepare for all the good that will come as a result.
-It is the time of year where we have begun our preparations for the celebration of Christmas. The shops are full of gifts that we might give or receive. Streets are decorated and choirs fill the air with festive song.
-In this season of expectation we prepare to for the birth of the son, and for the Christmas season. We prepare to welcome faith and light into our homes, our hearts, and those often hidden parts of our lives. Jesus entered this world as vulnerable as any one of us. We have our own vulnerabilities-our fears, our insecurities, our sins-all that can separate us from faith. We cannot comprehend the reasoning, only marvel that faith can be strengthened in us by a swaddling babe born in a stable.
Bible Verses: (These were long passages so I referenced them for you to look up, vs putting the entire section.)
-Read “Joseph accepts Jesus as his son” Matthew 1:18-25
-Read “The birth of Jesus” Luke 2:1-21
Family Prayer:
-Stir up our hearts, O Lord. We remember Mary and Joseph, and give thanks for their faithfulness, and courage. Stepping out into the unknown with only the strength of God’s Spirit. We pray that their example might be the pattern of our lives, that we might be ready to listen. And then having listened, to act on any opportunity to strengthen our faith. As we prepare for Christmas, we remember another, John the Baptist, who would prepare a way for us, so our hearts would be ready to receive the light of the One who was to come.
Personal Prayer(s):
-Now is the time to pray any personal prayers you wish. This can be done aloud individually, with a group leader, or silently in your hearts. Prayers should be mindful of the theme of this Sunday.
Music:
-“Mary did you know?” (Penantonix or Carrie Underwood are great ones to listen to)
-“Silent Night”
Advent Devotional: 1st Sunday
A few years ago I began writing Advent devotionals for my family and friends to use. I am personally agnostic but as a child/teenager was raised in the Christian faith. I still enjoy the tradition of the Advent wreathe, and light the candles year to year. Each devotional is specific to the particular theme of the week, and includes Bible verses, prayers, and Christmas carols to sing or listen to. Depending on the specific branch of Catholicism, the theme of each week in Advent varies slightly. I made a personal and Executive decision in choosing which theme to go with for the particular week, while trying to keep it as accurate as possible. These are meant to help those along who want to do something “more” during their lighting, or who don’t have any other material to refrence from. It can be printed off and read together as a group, or done alone. I hope you enjoy.
(Advent Week 1, First Sunday)
-“The Prophet’s Candle”. Representing Hope (or promise)
-Light the first purple candle. Hold hands and do the readings.
Bible Verses:
-Isaiah 9:2
“For The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; and upon those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us, a child will be born.
-Romans 13:11-14
“It is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and darkness.”
Family Prayer:
-For now is the first Sunday of Advent-a time representing Hope, and all that goes with it. The longest night is yet to come, but thereafter, the Sun returns and we are born again into the light of longer days. We have hope for the bonds we shall form as our family and friends join together in festive celebrations. We have hope that we have enough food and warmth to gaurentee our survival through the long Winter. We have hope for the eventual return of spring and the birth of new life after the long quiet slumber. We have hope for all the blessings and miracles that will come to us this Christmas.
Personal Prayer(s):
-Now is the time to pray any personal prayers you wish, for yourself, your family, your friends, your life. This can be done aloud and everyone shares their own, or silently in your hearts. One person can also lead a group prayer. It’s whatever your group/family wants to do. Prayers should be mindful of the theme of this specific Sunday of Advent.
Music:
-Sing the Carol together: O come, O come Emmanuel
-Or listen to- Awake, O Sleeper by Ike Ndolo
Howl (03-24-2011)
And then, in total darkness except for a light pole next to their house; it began.
A solitary howl; slow and deep, and then another voice broke out, and another. Until the howls of the wolves filled up the air and sky around us, filling in all the places between the trees and within my own body.
Their deep booms and high yips and guttering throat calls and chanting, fitting together in perfect time. A choir of ghosts. Wailing cries of wandering souls in the night.
Then, without any sign of a change, they crescendo, all howls becoming one. The voice of a great and ancient god, a sound that makes my very atoms vibrate.
There is not an instrument made by the hands of man that could come close to creating the sound of a wolf crying. A familiar call to my soul.
Poetry Magnets (4-11-2018)
Farmhouse (4-21-12)
We just moved in.
Cows and goats as neighbors.
Mangy dog hunting varmnits.
Old hardwood floors.
A backporch for houseplants, smoke breaks, muddy boots.
Our white shanty farmhouse.
Windows abound; sparrows nests on the ledges.
The steady clack and rumble of trains.
A room to be my Study.
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
This has always been one of my favorite series. The third book in the trilogy really portrays a great representation of PTSD as well. The awesome district maps people have made of the USA are always fun to look at as well. I have the unofficial cookbook companion to this series, which talks about a lot of different foods as well. It’s a really great all around series, and I love the way the author describes things, as well as Katniss’ internal dialogue.
Poetry Magnets (3-8-21)
This was created using a poetry magnets app on my cell phone.
Moths & Catacombs [10-2-19]
This catacomb has lain untouched for centuries, the stone covering its entrance not having been moved since the last body was entombed here. The air is stale, old, stagnant, and thick with dust and decay. The silence is heavy and overwhelming, save for the stones and bones rattling and crunching beneath my boots. The pressure of being so far underground weighs on my chest and the darkness is nearly impenetrable. I carry a torch; the fire casting shadows against the walls and tombs. Skeletons wrapped in disintegrating adornments, surrounded by sentimental treasures. Not even the rats seem to be here anymore; any remaining corpse long past the time when they ever had any flesh on their bones. Unexpectedly, the moths come to my light. Awakening from their centuries-old slumber, to flit and dance around the warm flame, bumping into my hand, their soft wings brushing me in ancient dust. Have they been sleeping here among the dead all this time? Had they ever even seen a light before? If they had-would they even remember it? These moths must be in awe of me as the light-bringer, much how I am in awe that they are alive here, in this forgotten place, where there has only been darkness and silence.
Ode to a New Journal [7.02.09]
Like a lover, passionate and familiar;
I will fill you.
Like I have so many others before you.
You give me butterflies.
I think about you
when I’m not holding you open
between my hands.
I miss you
when I’m not caught between
these soft pages
And the rough tip of my pencil.
Are all of you my asylums?
Forming crazy words and ramblings
On tens of thousands of blank pages.
I think I’m held captive in these lines.
My entire life scrawled and thrown down
In graphite and ink blots
For people to decipher.
AEL Library & Archives 