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This page last updated 26 December 2005
Anglicans Online last updated 20 August 2000

Letters to AO

EVERY WEEK WE PUBLISH a selection of letters we receive in response to something you've read at Anglicans Online. Stop by and have a look at what other AO readers are thinking.

Alas, we cannot publish every letter we receive. And we won't publish letters that are anonymous, hateful, illiterate, or otherwise in our judgment do not benefit the readers of Anglicans Online. We usually do not publish letters written in response to other letters.

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Letters from 12 to 18 December 2005

Like all letters to the editor everywhere, these letters are the opinions of the writers and not Anglicans Online. We publish letters that we think will be of interest to our readers, whether we agree with them or not. If you'd like to write a letter of your own, click here.

Blue is best

Here and in some other southern parts of the world, jacaranda purple heralds the coming of Advent, and then for some the soft pink-purple of the Persian Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) such as the one now flowering in my garden. However, in the midst of extravagance and commercialism (and of course rightful merriment), in the house of God itself I should prefer a sombre blue and a simple, quiet, reflective Advent, without flowers or fuss. That can be a small reminder to us of the truest meaning of Christmas, the celebration of the life of one whose words and deeds helped bring hope and healing to the sick and the poor, the lost and the marginalised of our world. It might also reinforce the sharp challenge to those of us in wealthy lands to make our main Xmas gift one to those who are among the least of the King's brothers and sisters, and those of our fellow creatures sorely affected by our greed and wastefulness.

The Revd Dr John Bunyan
St John the Baptist's, Canberra & King's Chapel, Boston
Campbelltown, New South Wales .
jrbpilgrim@bocnet.com.au
12 December 2005

There's more to Advent than waiting for Christmas

Bless you for quoting Gjertrud Schnackenberg's "Supernatural Love," a profoundly medatative poem on the nature of Advent, as several of her poems are. Much is said in churches these days about not rushing into Christmas during Advent. However, too little is sometimes made of that other aspect of Advent you mention, Christ's second coming. "And let the reign of saints begin!" indeed! As always, bless you for your illuminating essays.

Phoebe Pettingell
S. Stephen's
Providence, Rhode Island
Phoebe1446@aol.com
12 December 2005


Earlier letters

We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All of our letters are in our archives.

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