On December 13 at 4pm, the Advent Lessons and Carols service at the Episcopal Church of St. Martin in Davis will offer a somewhat different perspective on the familiar story of anticipation and hope that leads us toward Christmas. Our theme is “Ecce Novum Gaudium,” or “Behold! A New Joy!” Through a series of Scripture readings, choral music, and carols, we will explore maternal love as an often-overlooked dimension of the biblical understanding of God and of Advent. Scripture can offer us remarkable images of the divine that are at once fierce and tender: God as a mother who gives birth, remembers her children, nurses and comforts them, teaches them to walk, and carries them close. These images invite us to consider the nature of divine love in ways that are both ancient and surprisingly new.

The Advent readings will provide a journey through these images, beginning with the story of human beginnings and moving through the voices of the prophets toward the figure of Mary and the mystery of the Incarnation. Along the way, music drawn from the rich traditions of many ages will provide space for reflection and contemplation. Works from the 1582 collection Piae Cantiones and music by Renaissance composer Francisco Guerrero as well as Bay Area composer John Karl Hirten are among those included.

Advent is a season of waiting, of profound tenderness, and expectation. This service invites us to listen to the ancient stories in a new way, to encounter some less familiar images of God, and to reflect on the love that gives life, sustains us, and ultimately comes among us.

The Episcopal Church of St. Martin is located at 640 Hawthorn Lane in Davis, CA. All are welcome to attend this free event. This service will be offered online and in person.