Advent 2020: December 15, 2020

My childhood memories for the weeks leading up to Christmas Day are not associated with the word “Advent.” Yet that time period was most certainly filled with joyful preparation and exciting anticipation. The small Methodist Church in my community of less than forty families was the center of my spiritual and social life during my growing-up years. Active in Sunday School, the music programs, and youth group, I was deeply involved in preparation and participation in the annual Christmas Pageant, the outdoor live Nativity, Christmas Eve service, community caroling and collecting for UNICEF. (Anyone remember those little collection boxes that we put together ourselves? If you’re anywhere close to my age, I’ll bet you might.) Memories of the cold weather and the soothingly delicious hot chocolate, gingerbread, tea cakes and many other goodies generously offered after we sang “Silent Night” bring nostalgic tears to my eyes.

In my third year of college, as a Liturgical Music major at UNCG (Women’s College at the time), I was introduced to the Liturgical (Church) Year. My first true Advent of our Lord observance was in a large Episcopal Church in Greensboro, NC, where I was engaged in what the State University referred to as “Supervised Field Work.” Never before had I experienced such reverence in a place of worship! I was in awe, not only of the amazing, quietly beautiful architecture and stained glass windows, but especially the worship that formed through the rich liturgy, spoken word and music. The Advent Wreath and weekly candle lighting, the chosen scriptures, i.e., “Stir up your power and come..”(back to us) Psalm 80:2, “Comfort, comfort my people..” Isaiah 40:1, and others, enlightened me that Advent is a time to repent and to prepare for Jesus Christ to come again. It is so much more than the “things we do” to get ready. It is in sharing Christ’s love through the things we do for friends, family, those in need…all of God’s people. As this Season of Advent and Christmas is widely known throughout the whole world, it is a powerful time to share our faith and the Gospel news anyway we can.