December 2016 – January 2017 Newsletter

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Why I Love Advent

The conversation was nearly identical to many I’ve joined in past years at this same time of year. A group of church leaders was wondering how to “keep Advent” in a society that moves directly from Halloween to Christmas—with a very brief detour to Thanksgiving.

“No one in my congregation is clamoring to sing Advent songs,” admitted one leader. “They wonder why the church is the only place they go in the first half of December where they do not hear their favorite Christmas carols.”

“To add to the confusion,” added another leader, “we’re reading lessons from the Bible about the apocalypse, and hearing sermons by the fiery John the Baptist, while the cable channels are filled with heart-warming stories about snowmen, reindeer, elves, and happy families gathering around a brightly decorated tree. What would you rather hear?”

As usual, there was no group consensus about the best way to participate in the all-out cultural celebration of Christmas while moving through the church season of Advent. The one thing the group did agree on was that sharing the message of Advent is worth navigating the tension that arises every year.

I readily admit that Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the year. I enjoy Christmas too, but Christmas can become so filled with great expectations to create and experience perfect kinds of celebrations that we miss the messy simplicity of the reason for the season. Advent points us beyond anything we’re able to plan, create, or initiate on our own. Advent reminds us  every year that whether our Christmases be white, bright, and joyful, or falling short of our expectations again, our hope is in Emmanuel who has come and will come again. Advent teaches us to look beyond the expected to the more that God in Christ came to do in our lives and in the world.

This year I hope you will join Spirit of Joy in savoring the promises of  Advent…AND celebrating the joy of Christmas!  PJE

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