Happy new (liturgical) year! Despite the fact that Christmas decorations arrive ever-earlier, and the reality that many of us reading this will be mostly focused on Thanksgiving and its aftermath, a new time in the church year is—literally—right around the corner. The season of Advent arrives this weekend, and with it comes a distinct shift in liturgical tone and spiritual orientation.

One focus in Advent is on “preparation.” There are lots of ways we can prepare, and it is incumbent upon us not to allow the busyness of literal preparation overcome the seasonal process of reorienting our hearts. To-do lists have their place, and action steps come with relationships. Still, in addition to all of that, Advent offers us invitations: to alter our vision; to turn toward the birth of something new…..

There is a story in John’s Gospel, which we will read on Sunday, where Jesus is talking to some religious leaders called Sadducees. They came to Jesus with a question meant to trap Him – a riddle about marriage in the resurrection. They did not believe in life after death, so they posed a question they thought had no answer. Jesus however responds not with confusion, but with clarity.

“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

In those few words, Jesus reveals something profound – not only about eternal life, but about the nature of God Himself….

If you are a fan of horror films, this is your season and tonight is your night. There’s lots to choose from in the categories of suspense, supernatural creepiness and gore. But for me, one of the most evocative representations of Halloween is in the Hollywood classic Meet Me in St. Louis. Released in 1944, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Judy Garland (among others), the movie follows a family through the seasons of the year that lead up to the 1904 World’s Fair.

The film was based on a book, which was a compilation of short stories originally published in the New Yorker magazine. It’s a musical (natch), and includes famous numbers like “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The “Autumn” section of the story focuses on Tootie, the youngest sister of four, who dresses herself up in rags and a fake mustache and goes outside after dark on Halloween to make mischief with the older children….

Last month I wrote about the practice of Lectio Divina, or “Sacred Reading” – a particularly contemplative way of reading the Bible. Today I focus on Centering Prayer, a simple technique, similar to the last stage of Lectio Divina, that can help us deepen our relationship with God. It leads us to a place of communion with the divine that is beyond words, thoughts, and feelings, and might instead be described as simply resting in the presence of God.

In her wonderful book Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Cynthia Bourgeault describes how to do Centering Prayer: “It’s very, very simple. You sit, either in a chair or on a prayer stool or mat, and allow your heart to open toward that invisible but always present Origin of all that exists….

In Luke’s Gospel, we find a profound truth that resonates with us even today.

When Jesus entered a village, He was approached by 10 lepers who asked to be healed. Through their act of obedience and faith, they were healed and so we too can find solutions to our problems by taking proactive steps in faith. Whether it’s pursuing a new career, starting a new project, or making a significant life change. The act of moving forward with faith can lead to unexpected and positive outcomes….

Tomorrow, October 4th, is the day we celebrate the life and ministry of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis is remembered on the day he died, and this evening Franciscans around the world will participate in a special prayer service called The Transitus. The word “transitus” comes from the Latin word for “passage” or “crossing.” The worship commemorates Francis’ embrace of “Sister Death” and his transition into eternal life.

The Transitus liturgies vary. Most of them include Scripture, hymns, and stories from Francis’ life. The evening sometimes also includes the serving and eating of almond cookies, a tradition based in the story of Francis’ close relationship with Blessed Jacoba of Settesoli. The two friends met when Francis was in Rome seeking permission from the Pope for his Order of Friars Minor. She baked almond cookies for him whenever he visited her home….

As we Christians seek to follow Jesus more closely, we are encouraged to read the Bible. But we church leaders don’t always do a good job of teaching people how to read scripture! You can certainly simply read a passage and then go about your day, of course. But one of my favorite ways to read scripture is Lectio divina, which is Latin for “Sacred reading.” It is a way of spending time with a passage of scripture in such a way that one can get more nourishment out of it. The ancient monk Guigo II described the practice as being like a cow chewing its cud!…..