Close to Home Week 3 : simplebooklet.com

Advent DevotionalAdvent DevotionalArt, Poetry, Songs, & Reflections for the Season of Adventsanctifiedart.org@sanctifiedart | sanctifiedart.org | contact@sanctifiedart.orgA Sanctified Art LLC is a collective of artists in ministry who create resources for worshiping communities. The Sanctified Art team works collaboratively to bring scripture and theological themes to life through film, visual art, curriculum, coloring pages, liturgy, graphic designs, and more. Their mission is to empower churches with resources to inspire creativity in worship and beyond. Driven by the connective and prophetic power of art, they believe that art helps us connect our hearts with our hands, our faith with our lives, and our mess with our God.Learn more about their work at sanctifiedart.org.sanctifiedart.org.

Page 2

Read Luke 3:1-18Commentary Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri“No te duermas en los laureles.”The scripture for this week focuses on John’s prophetic message. Though his words might sound harsh (“You brood of vipers!” (v. 7)), it is a message of good news—of change, forgiveness, and justice—to a suffering people. God called John for a speciﬁc place and time (v. 1-4), and his cry from the wilderness, as written in Isaiah, proclaimed leveled valleys and righted wrongs. This was, and is, a message of joy, especially for those who had lost hope, hurt by the inequities and injustices perpetrated by the empire and the religious authorities aligned with it. The world as they knew it was about to change.Crowds came to John to be baptized, and he charged them with “bearing fruit worthy of repentance” (v. 8), not relying on past glories, heritage, or lineage, but producing their own fruit, living and acting in ways that demonstrated true change. Resting on their laurels for far too long, the crowd wasn’t quite sure how to do that, and John offers words of wisdom. Instead of accumulating, share with others what you have. Instead of being indifferent or selﬁsh, show consideration and compassion. Instead of taking advantage and preying on the vulnerable, be satisﬁed with what you have and treat others fairly and with dignity. . . even if you work for the empire (v. 12-14). What implications does John's message have for us kin-dom builders today? If “all ﬂesh shall see the salvation of God” (v. 6), we all have a part to play in the salvation story, in leveling valleys and righting wrongs. Like John, we are also called for a speciﬁc place and time: Here and now. Be at the ready, no te duermas en los laureles,⁹ and bear fruit worthy of repentance, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, giving voice to the silenced and oppressed, speaking truth to power, and protecting and empowering the vulnerable. Let our collective voice cry out in the wilderness—and everywhere—with exhortations and good news. And, as the message is heard, more and more people will join us in building the kin-dom of God, making it truly a home for all.AdvocatinG for home | Luke 3:1-18I know you don’t feel at home in your body. Your clothes don’t feel right. Your bones don’t feel right. Your name, just a word that people have labeled you with. I see the way you try on pronouns like I try on clothes, looking for something—anything—that feels right. And what I would give to build you a shelter— a safe space where you could be,a home where you were safe and free. What I would give to carve out some room for you to process and grieve and dance and sing your way into your true self. But I know it’s not that easy. My hands cannot build you safety.My words cannot give you time.My heart cannot be home enough. So until the day when you are truly at home,I will keep marching for you. I will keep advocating for the home you deserve— the home in your own skin. I will keep praying. I will give you my second coat, and the shirt off my back, and the food from my table. I won’t give up on preparing the way. A voice is calling out in the wilderness. Do you hear it? There’s more for us here than has been before.Poem by Rev. Sarah (Are) SpeedA Home for aLL (Joy) SANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALL | 229 “Don’t rest on your laurels.”21 | SANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALLMonday | A Home for aLL (Joy) SundayWritten with love for all who identify as transgender and/or non-binary.

Page 3

Page 4

Tuesday | A Home for aLL (Joy) Read Luke 3:1-18From the Artist Rev. T. Denise Anderson As I meditated on the theme, Close to Home, I decided that what makes a place “home” for me is people. That realization informed my decision to explore this theme through portraiture—the depiction of people. The references for each of the depictions I’ve painted are actual Palestinians and Israelis. It’s important to me to bring this ancient story truly close to home as we consider the current geopolitical realities in the land of the Advent story. I encourage you to read more about the stories of those who inspired these depictions.My depiction of John the Baptist is inspired by Abuna (meaning “Father”) Elias Chacour, who was the Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church (2006-2014). A Palestinian Arab-Israeli, Abuna Chacour is a well-respected activist and educator who established the Mar Elias Educational Institutions in Ibillin, which educate students of multiple religious backgrounds—Arab and Israeli—from kindergarten through high school. His life’s work embodies the courageous and prophetic pointing to a better way that I also see in John the Baptist.John’s words in the text are so full of imagery that it’s impossible to ﬁt it all in one image. The shape of his tunic recalls the base of the tree referenced in verse 9. In the background is an obvious path, recalling John’s clear instruction to his listeners. Share your belongings! Do not extort people! His counsel is so simple, yet apparently so hard to follow. The path leads to the sunrise on a new day, the colors of which allude to the ﬁre of Jesus’ baptism. In his hand is a key, which is a symbol that you’ll see in my other works. For Palestinians, the key represents a longing and determination to return home from displacement.PrayerBreathe deeply as you gaze upon the image on the left. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.23 | SANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALLA Closer Walk | T. Denise AndersonSANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALL | 24

Page 5

Page 6

Wednesday | A Home for aLL (Joy) Read Zephaniah 3:14-20From the Artist Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity King Josiah, Zephaniah’s cousin, has ascended to the throne of Judah. He steps into the aftermath of a half century of ruin incited by the former King, Mannaseh, who ruled with evil actions and led the people astray (see 2 Kings 22–23).Much of Zephaniah’s prophecy is an exacerbated lament. He believes the only way forward is for Yahweh to destroy everything. Too much has been corrupted, too much has fallen apart. But then, in chapter three, his message takes an unexpected turn—he turns toward restoration and unabated joy. This joy comes from God, who renews and calms us with love, rejoicing over us with singing. It comes from those who are vulnerable and shamed being gathered back in, restoring the whole community.In this image, the blueprint background reminds me of a deconstructed building; it’s as if the rooﬂine has fallen and the infrastructure crumbled. Yet, the collapsed roof provides an opening that becomes a doorway of invitation. God’s hand reaches down from the heavens, gently nudging us inward. Fig trees adorn the opening as signs of promise. A music bar (showing the ﬁrst line of the familiar hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”) lures us toward the doorway, becoming a pathway for our journey home.Perhaps the path toward creating a home for all requires some deconstruction. Some of our structures are rotting. Some of our institutions are compromised. Some of our rituals need repair. And yet, nothing is beyond redemption. Collective belonging gives way for collective joy—joy that is free and full. God’s love will ﬁnd a way to renew us and gather us in.Here I ﬁnd my greatest treasure;hither by thy help I've come;and I hope, by thy good pleasure,safely to arrive at home.10PrayerBreathe deeply as you gaze upon the image on the left. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.25 | SANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALLGather Us In | Lisle Gwynn GarritySANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALL | 2610 The second verse of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” written by Robert Robinson (1758), altered by Martin Madan (1760). Public domain.

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

29 | SANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALLSANCTIFIED ART CLOSE TO HOME DEVOTIONAL | A HOME FOR ALL | 30Take SabbathTake SabbathNourish and sustain yourself with rest. Commit to a Sabbath activity today, perhaps one of those listed below:- Go for a walk outside.- Sit quietly and meditate.- Plant something indoors or outside.- Spend time with a friend or loved one.- Explore a new area of your town or city.- Cook or bake something using a favorite or new recipe.- Do yoga or exercise in a way that feels good for your body.- Write and mail a letter to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.- Organize or redesign an area in your home.- Draw or create something.- Dance or play music.- Write a poem or a song.- Watch a movie.- Take a nap.- Read a book.Saturday | A home for aLL (Joy) LightStackSetthethethecangiftstadles,beble--deckneathforthetheahallstreefeastWeHangCrysarethetal,maklightschiingwherena,----roomallsilforcanverallseegleam-PracSendOnceticecardsthehosfullbanpiofquet- --talChristhasimasbeentycheerblessed----GiveToGainthetherChrisfam'roundtianilyin---charfarChristiandmastynearbest--- ButButButtotheChrist'scregreattaateestble---lasgifthastingwebeenchangeshareset- AIsWithtransatheacworldsimtionthat'splest- --aljustmealexandofchangefairbread--Won'tThoughOfmakeitferstraightfeelsingoursoa- -crookfarbunedadantwayswaygrace---OrWeHereliftworkallvalforpeoleysGod'sple---inprohavetomisedaplainsdayplace--Pro phets of the- ag es call:- "We must build ahome for all!"A Home for AllMENDELSSOHN 7.7.7.7 D with refrainMusic: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1840)Text: Anna Strickland (2021)A Home for AllHark, the Herald Angels Sing Scan to hear the tune!Friday | A Home for aLL (Joy)

Page 11

Page 12