Advent

I never knew much about Advent, little sweetheart, until a few years ago, but it’s kind of a wonderful season - these 24 days leading up to Christmas. There was a wonderful program on BBC Radio 4 a few years ago, I taped the broadcast and later burned it to CDR, all about the Advent service they do each year at Salisbury Cathedral. 

The service is called “Darkness to Light” and the choir and vergers move in a procession about the church as they sing and speak the lessons and light the space one candle at a time from a single flame. The program weaves through interviews with the staff while including some of the music both of the service itself and the choir - both children and adults - as they rehearse. It’s really wonderful and I listen to each year at this time. 

Darkness to Light is resonant, too, I think, little sweetheart because it so well describes my own journey and the gift you brought - the light and love you illumined my life with. How grateful I am! Love you forever!