“Finding a Theme for Advent” by Celebration Circle

October 25, 2015

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

As the Message for this morning, Celebration Circle (of which I am a member) is going to demonstrate for you a part of our process in which we invite God to speak to us and shine through us.

In preparing for each liturgical season, Celebration Circle has five tasks: 

·         To establish a theme

·         To select a reading to serve as the Reflection 

·         To write the liturgy

·         To design and create a bulletin cover 

·         To design and create the altar display, sometimes incorporating other                 portions of the sanctuary, as well. 

Our next liturgical season will be Advent, which begins in 5 weeks.  To help you understand how we do what we do, this morning – before your very eyes – we’re going to conduct the first step of our process – to establish a theme for Advent.  This has not been rehearsed – we are doing this in real time.  We hope you find it interesting, and perhaps instructive or maybe even enlightening.

Shall we begin?

 Below is a summary of the Advent “Brainstorm”. .

Advent 2015: 29 November – 20 December (4 weeks)

 THE WORLD AROUND US 

• More election craziness
• Damp, raw weather (with occasional gorgeous days)
• Seasonal extremes$PEND! The culture of consumerism
  • Short days / Darkness here
  • Summer in the Southern Hemisphere
• Too many carols before Christmas
• Encouragement to “forget about disasters”
• Fighting in the Middle East
• For some people:Opportunities to see families
  • Quiet preparation for the season
  • Personal loneliness
  • Families struggling to buy presents for children
  • Families struggling with the possibility that this might be the last Christmas for loved ones
• Homeless longing for shelter
• The Culture kills the prophetic side of Christianity with trivial gift-giving

SEEKERS

• Hectic times
• Anticipation vs living in the momentSome traditions continue
  • Anticipation: we jump to celebrating Christmas
  • Living in the moment: giving space in my life to see where Christ can come again
• Progressive crèche in the front windows
  • The Red Star moving in the sanctuary
  • Altar installation
  • Christmas Eve dinner (and Seekers reunion)
  • Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve
  • Holiday Sing-Along
• Some traditions in questionGallery exhibit down
  • Christmas Pageant (No-one has stepped forward to lead)
  • Building decorated for the holidays
• A mix of tradition and uncertainty: Hold the old / Find the new

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE SEASON

• Hebrew Scripture full of promises
• Gospel
  • End times are coming
  • Repent!
• John the Baptizer and Jesus: Different perspectivesBegin with small changes to get ready
  • John: Repent – do your job honestly and well
  • Jesus: Repent – live a life of loving and doing God’s will
• “He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire!”
• 4^th week – the Magnificat brings “promises” intot he Gospel
• God’s timetable stretchedHoly Contradictions
  • We don’t know God’s timing
  • Tension between anticipation and action

WORKING THEME: (Promises, Promises)

 REFLECTION:

 LITURGY PARTS

Call to Worship

Confession & Assurance         

Great Thanksgiving  

Benediction