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SPEAKER 1
Hi, everyone. It's great to be here at the cottage. Many, many thanks to Diana Butler Bass for creating this beautiful space, but also for inviting me to be part of the community during the Advent season. This song is called A Light in the Window. I'd had a long drive home. It was wintertime and dark and quite late.
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The sky was full of stars. That kind of night where you look up and remember that you are small. An immense and unfolding story. And at the same time, looking out, set back off the road was a house, a house with a light in the window.
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And there was something so comforting about seeing that little bit of light out there in the dark. Even in the darkest night, there is always a light that leads us home. Looking out at the night beyond the driver's wheel Curving hips made of snow

The first window in our Advent of Justice and Joy calendar is from singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer. It’s a perfect start.

The song, “A Light in the Window,” is from her album, A Permeable Life.” I loved the line, “Now the old has already passed away, but the new is too new to be born today.” That’s Advent for you.

Carrie has an excellent Substack publication, A Gathering of Spirits. Her website is www.carrienewcomer.com.


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This is the only Advent window that will be sent to the entire Cottage community. Beginning tomorrow, the daily Advent posts will be sent only to paid subscribers at the Cottage. In addition to the daily Advent calendar, the Cottage is hosting an online DYI Advent retreat this week with John Philip Newell, Jemar Tisby, and Noel Paul Stookey.

We’re offering a 10% discount to new paid subscribers — it is only available by clicking the button below.

Advent of Justice & Joy Special

If you’d like to be part of the Advent series and can’t afford a paid subscription, just drop us a note. We’ve never refused a complimentary subscription to anyone with a legitimate need. The Cottage email is: the.cottage.email@gmail.com


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Discussion about this podcast

Thank you - I love everything about this beautiful gift of song.

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I am now a fan! Thank you Carrie for sharing the light in the window of a dark world.

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Love the image of a light in the window. Thank you! The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.

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Gorgeous!

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A perfect {rayr to end my overly busy day. Thankyou Carrie.

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prayer to end my day. Thank you

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Perfect start. Sigh.

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beautiful!

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Just lovely.

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This lovely song inspired us to put our own lights in the windows, symbolizing welcome to the stranger. Thank you, Fiana and Carrie.

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What a sneaky way to hook me into reading your daily Advent devotions. I already subscribe to the Gathering of Spirits so it was a delight to listen to Carrie sing “A Light in the Window.”

Yesterday, I immediately recognized the picture from “Light One Candle.” I recorded the PPM Holiday Concert during PBS’s Pledge Drive on our VCR over 35 years ago. Then we had someone transfer it to a DVD 20 years ago. Our family still watches it annually during December. Such a delightful combination of Hanukkah, Advent, Christmas carols, and PPM’s classics.

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Carrie has gotten me through some good and bad days. Thanks so much for this offering.l

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A song of peace and hope. Thanks

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I have lost access to this post for some reason. It keeps sending me to a podcast from another writer. Is there any way to get Diana’s post again?

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I’m not sure if this is the forumm to ask the question but I just signed up as a paid subscriber. I’ve received a receipt for payment yet I don’t know if that’s actually registered in the system because I received another email asking me to sign up as a paid member.

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Thank you Diana and Carrie

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A lovely way to begin Advent. It made me ponder how waiting is integral to the Christian faith, but it is a complex waiting that includes patience, contemplation, personal/communal action.... all motivated by this line, “Now the old has already passed away, but the new is too new to be born today.” There is so much hope in this single line. Thank you for introducing me to Carrie Newcomer.

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Very nice and good to hear right now. Thank you.

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Carrie's songs, poems and music have comforted me every time! So glad I discovered her.

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I just shared this song with a friend who is grieving the loss of her spouse not quite 2 years ago. I hope it brings her a bit of peace today.

Thank you, Diana and Carrie, for a lovely start to a beautiful season.

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I saw on the way to Services last night that a house in my neighborhood has placed their Christmas tree in a upstairs window with white lights and it is beautiful. As I drove by I thought I see you Jesus and know you are with us.

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Yes Carrie’s song is beautiful and hopeful.

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Thank you Diana and Carrie for this beautiful and inspiring song for this morning. My soul and spirit needed it as an amazing gift this Monday as some dark days and nights have come before toady.

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Solved. I re-loaded the Substack app and it now works.

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I'm glad. Because I'm not the app department! Lol. Click on "Support" in the menu anytime for email addresses and directions to solve common problems. We have that Support page to help with about 80% of issues.

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Lovely!

I think I’m a paid subscriber, but I’m not sure. How can I find out?

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Wish I could enjoy Carrie’s music. Can’t listen because when I try, Substack requires updating; then when I try that, I get a message the Substack app is not available in my region or country. Odd.

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Try YouTube

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I can’t get the video to open and play - anyone else having this problem? Any suggestions?

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So beautiful. What a great way to begin this new day. Thank you!

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Basking in the morning’s sun and basking in the sweet innocence and hope of ‘a light in the window’. Thank you.

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Carrie, closing my eyes I could envision the gentle hip curve in the snow and the glow from the light in that window. Great idea for an advent Calendar, a virtual window. Thank you Diana!

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The best Advent window I've ever opened. Thank you!

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So beautiful and a wonderful way to begin advent. Thank you, Diana and Carrie for this window into Advent.

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Carrie's song "You Can Do This Hard Thing" is on my 'Hope' playlist and has helped me countless times.

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Yes, a beautiful start for preparing the path. And, whispering, have to say I choked up a bit with the last verse. I, too, hope, believe, that there will be a light in the window.

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Thank you! As we go forward may all of us have a “light in the window “ giving us hope and a peace that passes understanding.

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Thank you

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What a beautiful way to begin this season - thank you

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May we all share in a mutual gaze of love letting our inner lights shine!

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Beautiful start to our Advent…and adventure.

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So beautiful! Thank you for such a precious gift, Carrie and Diana.

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Beautiful..thank you...

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A beautiful song

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Thank you, Carrie and Diana.

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Thank you ❤️

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The Cottage
The Cottage
Part retreat, part think tank. A place for inspiration and ideas about culture, faith, and spirit.