Advent Blogging

I read Pluralist Speaks and felt very depressed. I must admit I have trouble understanding his blogs. My university degrees are in mundane subjects of Economics, Geography, Education and Librarianship and I do not easily follow philosophical discussions. However Adrian indicated he does not believe in a supernatural being yet he attends Anglican services twice on Sunday and I think 2 or 3 times per week. Any comment I feel like making would sound like it comes from the fundamentalists both he and I dislike. I rarely attend actual services more than once per week although I do go to courses which are run by the church mid-week from time to time. I attend the Eucharist to come closer to God. I rarely do more than nod to anyone else in the Church and have no idea of the names of the people with whom I exchange the peace greeting every week nor anything about them. I have gone down to coffee afterwards but stood there without speaking to a soul. I prefer to go to a nearby coffee shop where the coffee is better, though more expensive and the barista does say hullo. I cannot imagine going to Church if I did not believe in God. My sister joins me in church about once per month and we go to coffee together afterwards. After 3 years as a parishioner , the Rector still says "Nice to see you" and nothing more each week. I have had some brief discussions with the Assistant Priest and he is much more friendly and approachable and does indicate that he recognises me as a regular. This is partly my fault, I have always been a bit of a wallflower until I get to know people and I have learned to keep apart from church people because of the general attitude to gays in the Sydney Diocese.
Anyway I feel sad that someone goes to church several times per week yet apparently believes none of it.

Much happier blog reading came from Telling Secrets. Again our rector's sermon on Advent Sunday was hard to follow, he preaches at top speed. What I understood was good but I have forgotten it now. It was delightful to read such a meaningful and down to earth sermon by Elizabeth Keaton who had such a wise Grandmother. Then I enjoyed the very meaningful "Interview with God" posted by Robert at musings with an episcopal padre. A lot to think about there and beautiful pictures.

Grandmère Mimi has some lovely thoughts and a prayer about Advent but has also linked to an Advent calendar from Trinity Church, New York which I am reading every day. Last but not least the wonderful Franiam has linked to the Advent message from the Archbishop of Canterbury, a man who can provide such wonderful thoughts (we studied "Tokens of trust" at the beginning of the year) even though I have mixed feelings about his methods of leading the Anglican Communion.

Unlike Grandmère Mimi, Advent has never been very important to me. It seems to be swamped by preparation for Christmas and, as a teacher here in the Southern Hemisphere, the hectic winding down of the school year then not seeing anyone from school for 6 weeks. Even now that I have retired I find it a time of sadness, my musical group which meets every Tuesday and goes to lunch afterwards is having the final party today then will not meet again until February. Likewise the Monday walking group will have its final walk next week, followed by a party a week later and again break until February. It means I will now likely go a full week or even more unless I meet my sister at church or go to the movies with her without having a real life conversation with anybody. As I have often indicated, I hate the summer heat here. Thank God for the internet where I can read uplifting messages by my favourite bloggers. I think I will give Pluralist a miss.