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A View from the Pew
005
A Beautiful Christmas
Part of my growing up years were spent in a Methodist church in southern
Oklahoma. We met in a hundred year old building with a huge front
staircase leading to a portico with tall, white pillars and wonderful
heavy wooden doors complete with big iron door handles. I know
church is not a building, it's us, but somehow when you approach a
building like this you just know you're at church.
Inside the sanctuary was all white with contrasting dark wood, red
carpet and the typical stained glass windows and huge pipe organ located
up-center-stage. When you were in there by yourself, it was so
quiet. Because my mom was on staff there, I had many opportunities
to wander alone in the sanctuary. I remember moments alone in the
cavernous sanctuary and sensing the awesomeness of God. He was so
big, and I was so small. Even the sound of my breathing seemed to
interrupt the silence. It was fearful and exciting.
In my two and a half years there, I didn't really connect with anyone.
We changed preachers. I sang in the choir but had to fight to stay
awake during the sermons. I can't really say I learned anything,
but I do remember that Christmas at this church was different. Christmas
was special. They called it Advent. I found the following
description of Advent on a Methodist church website:
"Advent: A Season of Hope and Light:
The season of Advent begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
The word "advent" means "coming" or "arrival." It is the season of the
church year in which we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
For centuries before Jesus' birth, the
people of the Hebrew Scriptures awaited the coming of the Messiah. Some
of our traditions come from these ancient forms of preparation. As
Christians, we adopt many of the traditions of Europe, anticipating the
re-emergence of light after a winter of darkness. We see Jesus as
the Light of the World and, thus, light many candles and decorate with
electric lights. The use of greenery and trees in the home also
come from Europe and represent hope and promise in the bleak midwinter.
We also look forward to the day when Jesus and his ways will be
recognized around the world and he will usher in the time of Peace that
was long foretold. Advent is a time of anticipation of Jesus' birth and
of his return or Second Coming. The traditional colors for Advent
in the church have been the royal shades of purple."
My memory is that the "Hanging of the Greens" service was the kick off.
Then each week, something different happened. The choir had a
different colored stole for this time. At some point, the youth
group would go Christmas caroling in the community. Our Sunday
night services would revolve around the lighting of one of the Advent
candles, and there would be many scripture readings and responsive
readings plus congregational singing and quiet times for prayer.
As ritualistic as this may sound, I remember it fondly as some of the
only truly spiritual times I experienced in church as a teenager.
Unlike many of my adult years, Christmas at that time was truly focused
for weeks on Jesus and the wonder of His birth and God's plan for
mankind. God is into beauty. The hundred year old sanctuary with its
dark wood, white walls, red carpet as a backdrop to poinsettias,
greenery across the altar and balcony railings, lights, red bows, and an
enormous tree covered in Advent ornaments was beautiful. Though
they were outward adornments, the visual effect turned my mind and heart
toward God and not away from Him, because in my mind in that place, it
was all for Him.
Like everyone else, I have caught myself many times in recent weeks
complaining, "I'm so busy". But I would like to sacrifice
something somewhere to make the time to put my mind and focus on the
Lord during this Christmas season. I don't want to get to
Christmas Day and regret that I have rushed to that day and I am not
spiritually prepared to truly celebrate Jesus. He's worth more
than this, more than what I have been giving Him of my time and
attention on His birthday the last few years. Today is November 30
and the perfect time to make a plan for the upcoming weeks that involves
scripture, prayer, worship and mostly time with God. I don't
happen to attend a church that will serve me up Christmas devotional
time on a silver platter all decorated with greenery and lights.
That's o.k. I shouldn't need the church to hold my hand through
everything. I can get alone with God myself and wander in the
stillness of His awesome presence and enjoy His beauty. I pray you
find God moments this month, too. You'll be happy you did.
An Advent Wake-Up Call: Advent 2007 Meditation
"You must do this, because you know that the time has come for you to
wake up from your sleep."
Romans 13:11
We followers of Jesus Christ, lovers of the God who called all into
being, begin Advent. With a wake-up call, we prepare for the
mystery once again of the King who came and is still coming. But a
call to what? In the preceding verses of Romans 13 we learn that
what we're to wake up to is "Love your neighbor as yourself".
Prayer: Lord, wake us up from our sleep, from the nightmare of our
over-consumption and the havoc our "me only" culture wreaks in our
world…so that we too might usher in the Kingdom of God today. Free
us to deeply know and accept your love and as a temple of your Holy
Spirit, give us your grace to truly love our neighbors as ourselves.
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