My husband and I took a seat on the wooden pews in the spartan sanctuary.
The stark simplicity of the surroundings was a shocking contrast to the seasonal trimmings and tinsel, to the dizzying array of blinking lights and bright colors offered at our local shopping malls.
The silence in the sanctuary was deafening.
Such a severe contrast it was to the clamor and activities of the Christmas holidays.
This week-end marked entrance to the busy holiday season and the unwrapping of a gift to our community: the annual Moravian Candle Tea sponsored by a local Moravian Church here in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The annual Candle Tea celebrates the beginning of Advent.
Church members and volunteers proudly present chiming hand bell choirs, brilliantly unpredictable children playing violins, handmade beeswax candle molding demonstrations, a genuine German putz (in this case a replica of Bethlehem), live manger scenes with scruffy eared donkeys-and my favorite-an old fashioned tavern that divvies out Moravian spice cookies, Moravian sugar cake, and coffee so sweet it makes your mouth pucker.
The silent atmosphere in the sanctuary was punctuated by a few hoarse coughs and restless children being shushed by their parents.
We were awaiting the hand bell concert.
Even choir members, dressed in traditional Moravian attire, seemed to be wearing scarves of seasonal weariness.
Suddenly, without warning, the sanctuary's stillness began an intrusive search of my frantic heartbeat.
Still frenzied from work worries, two recent funerals, and the usual influx of holiday gatherings and expectations, I squirmed in the silence.
Not until hours later did I recognize the gift of this stillness, enfolded in the sanctuary's tranquil atmosphere.
The stillness eased the strains of my life.
The quietness led to a subtle shift in FOCUS, mostly in my heart towards God.
It quieted my nerves on ragged edge and helped me to find joy in this season.
Too often you and I seek substitutes for stillness.
Sometimes we run from it's intrusive alerts! What exactly is stillness? Stillness is more than a rendezvous with Redbox© and the remote.
It's more than a relaxing remedy such as a bubble bath or visit to the spa.
It's more than a calming distraction or diversion from commercialism.
Stillness can be anything which steers our thoughts towards God.
Stillness, thank goodness, doesn't necessarily require hours of our time...
Only a few moments to create a shift in Focus.
What brings a shift in your focus? How can you enter into stillness this season..
..
if only for a few minutes? My cousin enters into stillness by participating in scripture reading at her church's Christmas Eve service.
Author Robert Fulghum and his wife entered the stillness one year, by building an outdoor fire and gazing at heaven's stars.
How might you bring balance to the clamor of the season? How might you enter into the stillness...
if only for a few minutes? Here are 10 gifts of Stillness...
unwrap them slowly! Stillness enfolds and comforts aches of the heart Stillness reveals ragged areas of our soul Stillness expands our awareness of God's presence and mercy in life's challenges Stillness sifts through the illusions we hold Stillness holds us servant to God's whispers of love when we feel anything but worthy Stillness is balm to grief we are too weary to bear Stillness silences, sifts, and sorts our chaos Stillness ushers God into the storm within Stillness eases strain, because it shifts the heart to God.
In this season, may you discover balance as you open your heart to the gifts of stillness.
Take a few moments here and there to shift your focus, to quiet your frantic heartbeat.
May the silence instill a new song in your heart and ease the strain that may be there! Stillness!
The stark simplicity of the surroundings was a shocking contrast to the seasonal trimmings and tinsel, to the dizzying array of blinking lights and bright colors offered at our local shopping malls.
The silence in the sanctuary was deafening.
Such a severe contrast it was to the clamor and activities of the Christmas holidays.
This week-end marked entrance to the busy holiday season and the unwrapping of a gift to our community: the annual Moravian Candle Tea sponsored by a local Moravian Church here in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The annual Candle Tea celebrates the beginning of Advent.
Church members and volunteers proudly present chiming hand bell choirs, brilliantly unpredictable children playing violins, handmade beeswax candle molding demonstrations, a genuine German putz (in this case a replica of Bethlehem), live manger scenes with scruffy eared donkeys-and my favorite-an old fashioned tavern that divvies out Moravian spice cookies, Moravian sugar cake, and coffee so sweet it makes your mouth pucker.
The silent atmosphere in the sanctuary was punctuated by a few hoarse coughs and restless children being shushed by their parents.
We were awaiting the hand bell concert.
Even choir members, dressed in traditional Moravian attire, seemed to be wearing scarves of seasonal weariness.
Suddenly, without warning, the sanctuary's stillness began an intrusive search of my frantic heartbeat.
Still frenzied from work worries, two recent funerals, and the usual influx of holiday gatherings and expectations, I squirmed in the silence.
Not until hours later did I recognize the gift of this stillness, enfolded in the sanctuary's tranquil atmosphere.
The stillness eased the strains of my life.
The quietness led to a subtle shift in FOCUS, mostly in my heart towards God.
It quieted my nerves on ragged edge and helped me to find joy in this season.
Too often you and I seek substitutes for stillness.
Sometimes we run from it's intrusive alerts! What exactly is stillness? Stillness is more than a rendezvous with Redbox© and the remote.
It's more than a relaxing remedy such as a bubble bath or visit to the spa.
It's more than a calming distraction or diversion from commercialism.
Stillness can be anything which steers our thoughts towards God.
Stillness, thank goodness, doesn't necessarily require hours of our time...
Only a few moments to create a shift in Focus.
What brings a shift in your focus? How can you enter into stillness this season..
..
if only for a few minutes? My cousin enters into stillness by participating in scripture reading at her church's Christmas Eve service.
Author Robert Fulghum and his wife entered the stillness one year, by building an outdoor fire and gazing at heaven's stars.
How might you bring balance to the clamor of the season? How might you enter into the stillness...
if only for a few minutes? Here are 10 gifts of Stillness...
unwrap them slowly! Stillness enfolds and comforts aches of the heart Stillness reveals ragged areas of our soul Stillness expands our awareness of God's presence and mercy in life's challenges Stillness sifts through the illusions we hold Stillness holds us servant to God's whispers of love when we feel anything but worthy Stillness is balm to grief we are too weary to bear Stillness silences, sifts, and sorts our chaos Stillness ushers God into the storm within Stillness eases strain, because it shifts the heart to God.
In this season, may you discover balance as you open your heart to the gifts of stillness.
Take a few moments here and there to shift your focus, to quiet your frantic heartbeat.
May the silence instill a new song in your heart and ease the strain that may be there! Stillness!