selections from

You Meet Us at the Gate:

Meditations for Advent

an original series of daily readings, poems, songs, and art

come, thou long expected Jesus (4.6)
songs Alyssa Stadtlander songs Alyssa Stadtlander

come, thou long expected Jesus (4.6)

We’ve made it! Merry Christmas! Sing of joy to your world, for the Lord has come! 

Today, the final day, there are two things to do that remain: 

First, I want to encourage you to read today’s reading aloud with your family, take turns reading, and hear the story of Jesus’ coming down to us, the extraordinary hidden in

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hope in mystery (3.6)
songs Alyssa Stadtlander songs Alyssa Stadtlander

hope in mystery (3.6)

This week’s song is inspired by my friend’s painting (below) that reminds me that God speaks in unexpected places, especially when we don’t expect to hear, or we’ve forgotten to listen. The text is drawn from both

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still waters (2.6)
songs Alyssa Stadtlander songs Alyssa Stadtlander

still waters (2.6)

This song, based off a variety of texts and stories I love, including Psalm 23, feels like that. I wanted to write something to soothe my soul, deeply lonely, lying awake and afraid in the middle of

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praying for rain (1.6)
songs Alyssa Stadtlander songs Alyssa Stadtlander

praying for rain (1.6)

I wrote this song in the midst of the devastating fires ravaging the West as I drove home from the gym under the thick blanket of grey smoke. As it’s ruminated, it feels

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