Advent & the Dawn Chorus

 

Do you know about the CBC? I'm not referring to the venerable and beleaguered Canadian Broadcast Corporation. The other CBC is older, the Christmas Bird Count which began in 1900 and is the Western Hemisphere's longest running citizen science project. This year's CBC began this past Thursday and concludes January 5th with thousands of birders participating and sharing their finds. In the Bleak Midwinter of Canada the pickin's are slimmer yet there were 279 species identified across the country last year. 

I would point out that we are in the liturgical season of Advent, not Christmas, but I quibble. This past week I came across The Dawn Chorus: An Advent Devotional on the Wonders of Birds. Early morning bird song is not as prevalent at this time of year but here is a portion from the lovely introduction: 

In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, we pray, and light candles, and tell the truth about a world full of shadows. We confront the realities of conflict and injustice – and we take responsibility. And then we raise up our voices and sing straight into those shadows, calling on Jesus to come again with light and peace and healing in his wings.

Songbirds all over the world know a thing or two about singing in the dark. In the wee hours of the morning, they begin a great symphony that scientists call the “dawn chorus.” Birds can sing at any time of day, of course, but in the deep blue space between darkness and light, their songs are louder, livelier, and passionately clear...

Advent is the church’s dawn chorus. (my emphasis)

Yesterday we were out for a walk along the Bay of Quinte when four mute swans, an introduced species, flew by. Their substantial wings make a marvellous sound in flight and Ruth declared this aural feast the highlight of her day. 

If we do go for a ramble after worship this morning I will be thinking of Advent as the dawn chorus of the community of Christ.