Looking for a way to escape the hustle and bustle of the season and to ground yourself in hope and expectation? Plan to be with us in the Parish Hall on Sundays, Dec. 12 and 19 at our 11:30 a.m. forum for an Advent Spiritual Refresher with longtime CCC friend and spiritual director Dan Hoffman.

Dan will guide us in exploring the Canticles of Zechariah and Mary that we sing during our liturgies in Advent. In the story of Jesus’ birth, the main actor is God. God upends the natural order of human existence through the birth of John the Baptizer to aged Elizabeth and Zechariah and through the birth of Jesus to a young virgin, Mary. The “Good News” of Luke indicates from its first verses that the in-breaking of God’s reign will be accompanied by divine actions of all kinds. Zechariah offers a song of praise in Luke 1:68-79 (the Benedictus), and Mary offers her song in Luke 1:46-55 (the Magnificat). We’ll take a deep look at these treasures of Scripture and liturgy through contemplative individual activities including music, journaling, art, meditation and prayer.