“Finding a Theme for Advent” by Celebration Circle

October 25, 201515 Altar Jubilee

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

speak to us and shine through us.

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)

 More election craziness

  • Damp, raw weather (with occasional gorgeous days)
  • $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
  • 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
    • Some 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
    • Gallery 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!
    • Begin 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!”
    • 4th week – the Magnificat brings “promises” intot he Gospel
    • Holy Contradictions
      • We don’t know God’s timing
      • Tension between anticipation and action

    WORKING THEME: (Promises, Promises)

     REFLECTION:

     LITURGY PARTS

    Call to Worship