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href="http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/28/presiding-bishop-on-advent-what-is-it-that-you-are-most-waiting-for/">http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/28/presiding-bishop-on-advent-what-is-it-that-you-are-most-waiting-for/</A></FONT>
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<P><SPAN style="COLOR: #808080">[Episcopal Church Office of Public
Affairs]</SPAN> Noting that Advent is a time of waiting for “the coming of the
Prince of Peace, the one who will reign with justice over this world,” Episcopal
Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori focuses on two questions in
her Advent 2012 message: “What is it that you are most waiting for?” and “How
are you going to wait this year?”</P>
<P>The presiding bishop’s Advent 2012 message, videotaped in the Chapel of the
Good Shepherd on the grounds of the <A href="http://www.gts.edu/"
target=_blank>General Theological Seminary</A> in New York, is <A
style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline" id=_GPLITA_1
title="Click to Continue > by Browse to Save"
href="http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/28/presiding-bishop-on-advent-what-is-it-that-you-are-most-waiting-for/#"
in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6Mjc1MzQ6NDphdmFpbGFibGU6MjJiOGEyMDFkNzk1NDljYmM5YzNhNmIzZmZhODVkYjA6ei0xMDYzLTE1MjI5OmVwaXNjb3BhbGRpZ2l0YWxuZXR3b3JrLmNvbToxOTkyOTo1OWNlZDNjNTY4ZDhiMTMxOGFmODUxNTcyNjFiYzNiMA">available</A>
<A href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/presiding-bishop"
target=_blank>here</A>.</P>
<P>The first Sunday of Advent is Dec. 2.</P>
<P>In addition to the video, the following is the text of Jefferts Schori’s
Advent 2012 Message.</P>
<P><STRONG>Advent 2012</STRONG><BR>As you prepare for the season of Advent, I
would commend two questions to your musings and your prayer and your meditation:
What is it that you are most waiting for? And, how are you going to wait
this year?</P>
<P>I’m struck this particular season by the waiting of several women in
Christian <A style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline" id=_GPLITA_2
title="Click to Continue > by Browse to Save"
href="http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/28/presiding-bishop-on-advent-what-is-it-that-you-are-most-waiting-for/#"
in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MjgxMTc6NDpoaXN0b3J5OmUxYmY3YzhjNWQzY2JiOTg2ZmYyZTlhNzAxMGYxOGFjOnotMTA2My0xNTIyOTplcGlzY29wYWxkaWdpdGFsbmV0d29yay5jb206MjEzNjA6Y2NkMTczMjUyMjc5YWRiODZhYzAyZjYzOGY3MjQ0MGQ"
in_hdr="">history</A>. Mary obviously, waiting for the birth of the
Promised One in her part of the world, a child born for the whole world.</P>
<P>Also Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptizer, who comes before Jesus.
Elizabeth has been promised a child in her old age, these are both very
unexpected births, they are waiting.</P>
<P>And I’m struck particularly this year by Elizabeth of Hungary, a saint of the
Church who lived in the thirteenth century, who was betrothed as a child
herself, married at 14, a mother of three by the time her husband died when she
was 20. She spent her life giving it away, giving it away both physically
through her means and through her presence and her healing. She was an
icon of generosity.</P>
<P>What is it you wait for this year? Is it an opportunity to meet the
surprising around you? Is it an opportunity to reflect on what is most needed in
your heart and in the world around you? How are you going to wait for that
gift? Are you going to wait actively? Engaged? Honing your
desire? Stoking the passion within you for that dream? Are you going to
wait for a dream that will bless the whole world?</P>
<P>That’s what Christians wait for in the season of Advent – of the coming of
the Prince of Peace, the one who will reign with justice over this world.
I believe that’s what the world most needs, this year and every year.</P>
<P>May your season of waiting be fruitful and blessed. May it be filled
with surprise and a willingness to engage that surprise.</P>
<P>A blessed Advent.<BR><STRONG>The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts
Schori</STRONG><BR><STRONG>Presiding Bishop and Primate</STRONG><BR><STRONG>The
Episcopal Church</STRONG></P>
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