How are you celebrating Advent? Any Advent parties?

SISTER MAXINE: From the chat room, Amora Mundi asks, “How are you celebrating Advent?” and adds “Any parties?”
 

SISTER JULIE:  Oooh, Advent party! (laughter). How are you celebrating Advent? The first word that comes to mind is “well.” I feel like, for me personally, this is just one of the richest times of the liturgical year. I love Advent. I love all that it suggests. I love being about new life and at the same time recognizing that the Christ is here and among us. I love the hopeful words of Isaiah. I love that Isaiah also tempers it with reality. Things were not all that pretty in Isaiah’s time, especially for a prophet. So I love the realness of this season, I have to say. So it’s going well. In terms of parties, do we have any parties scheduled, sister?
 

SISTER MAXINE: I haven’t come across any Advent parties.
 

SISTER JULIE: Kind of like pre-Christmas parties so to speak.
 

SISTER MAXINE: Yes, yes.
 

SISTER JULIE: But it feels like a scriptural party because the readings are so rich. (laughter)
 

SISTER MAXINE: You know what I love about the season of Advent, and I think the way I am celebrating it, is I am giving myself to that sense of expectation, the expectancy of Advent. Looking at things in my life that I may not have questioned, things that sort of are routine, and trying to bring fresh eyes to them. Trying to bring to birth something new in the way I live and the way I interact. It’s like that whole feeling of just trying to be more and more awake to my life and finding ways, because of that mindfulness, be able to extend myself to people more.
 
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This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.