Finding Stillness in Advent: Embracing the Quiet Gifts of the Season

Our City Centre Minister, Judith Marshall, invites us to enjoy a slower Advent …

As I write this, I am looking out of my study window watching the golden leaves of autumn fall softly from the trees. I see a squirrel burrowing away in the undergrowth, foraging for food to store for the winter. Other animals, guided by instinct, will be preparing for hibernation, retreating into their burrows, conserving energy. The days are getting shorter and the nights colder and longer, and there is a quiet, stillness in the air.

For many of us in the Northern hemisphere, it’s a time where we close our curtains early, and want to curl up in front of a fire, with a warm blanket and hot drink.

There is something about this season which is prompting us all - animals and humans alike - to slow down.

In the Christian calendar, we’re about to enter Advent, a season so often overshadowed by the rush and glimmer and noise of our Christmas preparations. But Advent calls us to slow down and pay attention – to the world, to ourselves, to the quiet hope that lies in waiting. The ever-shortening days and longer dark nights can feel daunting, but they also offer a gentle reminder that there is beauty and depth to be found in stillness. Psalm 46:10 says, ‘Be Still and know that I am God’. This encourages us to let go of our anxieties and busyness and be still in God’s presence. Taking time each day to pause and to be still – be it through a walk in the fresh air, mindful breathing, or simply sitting in a quiet room in your favourite chair is a gentle act of self care; nourishment for the journey ahead. I wonder what helps you to be still? One of the things that helps me to slow down and pause is to knit. If you are that way inclined why not join in this Advent knitalong from Victoria Methodist Church in Bristol – each day you will get part of a pattern for a scarf together with a reflection, a reason to pause each day.

Photo by Nika Benedictova on Unsplash

Whatever your ‘thing’ is, the old analogy of the oxygen mask on an aeroplane reminds us that caring for ourselves is not selfish, but essential. Only by tending to our own wellbeing can we be fully present for others.

In a society that urges us to rush towards Christmas, to fill every spare hour with ticking off our to do lists, Advent offers a sacred counter-narrative. It is a time to resist the hurry, create space for slowness and let anticipation for Christmas build naturally. Rather than seeing waiting as an inconvenience, try to see it as a time of quiet growth – a chance to prepare our hearts for Christmas, as well as our homes. In the darkness we remember that the birth of Christ, the light of the world (John 8:12) comes not in haste, but in hope, inviting us to trust the slow but sure work of God.

So, our invitation as we journey through Advent, is to learn from the season and nature around us, and discover the gifts that a slower pace, or at least intentional times of stillness each day, can bring. We can take guidance and comfort in the Biblical call to be still, allowing ourselves to rest in God’s love as we anticipate the coming light of the birth of Christ.

If you’d appreciate a space to reflect on complicated feelings about the Christmas season, why not join us for Blue Christmas on Tuesday 09 December?