Advent Unwrapped: Ribbons of Hope✨

Ribbons In The Sky I went to many weddings as a kid, and at each one, I heard this song and someone was always rocking that same mustache. Even though it is clearly a wedding song, for me, it has always been a song about love, more specifically, God’s love. That ribbon in the sky of the couple’s love is joined by many other ribbons. And when all of these ribbons join together, God’s rainbow appears. This is not a coincidence, Stevie Wonder tells us. We often use ribbons to mark our love in action for many situations affecting beloved kin. Yesterday, many of us marked #RockTheRibbon to stop the spread of HIV, to stop stigma and discrimination, and to fight for the rights of people living with HIV. Today, many of us will wear a white ribbon to mark The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. I remember working reverently and diligently with a friend over many days to create a paper mâché life-sized White ribbon for my school assembly to remember the 14 young women killed. We knew it meant a lot to our teachers, so we made and raised that ribbon with great love.   Now, with the young women murdered in an act of violent misogyny at Polytechnique Montreal, we also remember the ten people killed, 16 injured, and countless traumatized by the Yonge Street van attack, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, the 57 (that we know of) Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming people who have been murdered by acts of violence in 2021 reported by the Human Rights Commission, and the four Indigenous women murdered by an alleged serial killer in Winnipeg in 2022. My ribbon and tears are with all women and girls who face unacceptable violence and discrimination. I pray that Stevie is right, that “we’ll find strength in each tear we cry.” I pray that these ribbons will help to herald the long-awaited peace of God’s dream. May each ribbon in the sky bring us closer to the revolution. Amen [Photo credit: Canva] New This Week!     In our latest Advent micro blogs the Rev. Maria Christina Conlon reflects on the holiness of those little ones who watch and learn from us and the Rev. Richard C. Choe reflects on the peace symbolism found in the simple image of extended hands. [Image credit: © Maria Christina Conlon]   Weekly Seeds and Sermon Seeds This weeks sermon seed is a reflection on Isaiah 11:1-10.   Songs and Prayers  Daily prayers have started on our Facebook page. Please join us in prayer... Oops, last week we uploaded the wrong downloadable video for The Giver last week. Sorry about that, and thanks for letting us know! [Image credit: The United Church of Canada]   Gems From Previous Years!   Three oldies (but goodies) reflections on peace: What is Peace?, Where would you share God’s gift of peace?, and Where would you search for peace?.   If you are feeling a bit "bah humbug" or are looking for ways to support folks who don’t "clean up to well at Christmas time" check out this 60 minute webinar a few years back: A John the Baptist Christmas with Diane Strickland an ordained minister and Community and Workplace Traumatologist. Don’t forget about Michael Jagessar’s reflection on “John-de-B” in it he recommends the book Who Will Rule? By Meena Raghunathan and Harsha Nagaraju a story about how the web of life brings us together. If you are looking for some activities to do with the whole family don’t forget about our Advent Unwrapped Activity Sheets. Waiting with you, as always, Alydia Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn   Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

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