Come Emmanuel: Approaching Advent, Living with Christmas

With characteristic gentleness and wisdom, Ann Lewin leads us on an exploration of the seasons of Advent and Christmas which are rich in imagery and themes to shape our faith. Advent speaks of our dual identity as people of this world and as God’s people. Come Emmanuel explores how we can hold this in creative tension and learn to relate our prayerfulness to everyday life. Ann opens up the depths of some very ancient prayers – the Advent antiphons - and discovers how much they can teach us for living as God’s people today. Commercially, Christmas may be over and done with on 25th, yet for Christians it is a profound beginning that leads paradoxically into death and suffering as on the days immediately following, the Church commemorates Stephen, the first martyr, and the Massacre of the Innocents. The baby in the manger will bring healing and forgiveness, but only via the road to the cross.