Knightly News

Collect for the Third Week of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

“Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us.” And hurry up! I can’t wait! I have always loved to anticipate things, and wait for things. Well, I guess it’s more of a love/hate thing because I’m not very patient. It can drive me crazy, but if I’m being honest, there are plenty of times I think I enjoy the time leading up to something more than I enjoy the actual thing. But this time of year, we get it all. The payoff is as great as the preparation. 

Advent is a time of preparation, a time to get ready for what it means to have God come into the world. We wait for God to take our human form and be born into the lowliest and humblest of circumstances. And we wait for God’s triumphant return as Christ our King to reign on earth, as it is in heaven. We don’t just wait, we get ready. That’s what this time of year is all about. Getting ready. Whether it is for exams, parties, family, travel, or all of the above, we have a lot going on. Enjoy it. Revel in the excitement of it. But don’t lose sight of the moment. 

Don’t let the fact that there was no room in the inn make you miss the comfort and warmth of the manger. Don’t let the fact that you couldn’t be with your family make you fail to appreciate the presence of the shepherds or the gifts of the wise men. Don’t let the fact that every little thing didn’t work out just as you planned it make you miss the moment. Preparation is great, but it isn’t everything. 

Make all the preparations that you can, but then enjoy what comes whatever it may be. God’s presence will always find us and it will come in unexpected ways. We can never be fully prepared for what God has in store for us, but we can be open to it. May the God of hope, be made known to you and yours this holiday season. 

Have a blessed Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday season. 

Collect for Christmas 

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Rev. Kirkland "Skully" Knight

The Rev. Kirkland “Skully” Knight has served in Episcopal schools for more than 24 years. The first ten were spent as a teacher and coach with the remainder as a teacher and chaplain. Skully has been at Episcopal School of Baton Rouge since 2011 and serves as the Senior Chaplain and Associate Head of School for Service Learning. Skully earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and his M. Div. from The University of the South at Sewanee. 

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