The Season of Advent
The Season of Advent
Advent—which begins Sunday—is the first season of the Church year, and guides our worship the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming or arrival.” It’s a season of preparation and anticipation; preparing our hearts to rightly celebrate the coming of Jesus for our salvation at Christmas, and to anticipate Christ’s second coming in power and glory to bring justice and make all things new. Advent braids together two longings—ancient and ongoing—into a single season of watchfulness. It asks the Church to inhabit Israel’s story even as it awakens our own hope, letting the first coming of Christ illuminate the second.
It’s a penitential season similar to Lent, reflected in the Church’s use of purple vestments and decor, and a few changes in our liturgy (particularly in the Ministry of the Word*). And while our culture fires up the Christmas Machine, the Church has a countercultural offer: slow down and anticipate Christmas with joy and hope, not exhaustion and dread. Against the whirl of consumerism, adopt the steady rhythm of Advent. Enjoy the waiting. Watch. Study. Give. Listen.
*The “Ministry of Word” is the proclamation of God’s Word through liturgy, preaching, and creed (everything up to The Peace), while the “Ministry of Sacrament” is the administration of the gospel sacraments of Communion and Baptism. Together these are called “The Ministry of Word and Sacrament”.
New Song
During the four Sundays of Advent, we will be singing a new song to us as a part of the Ministry of the Word: O Lord, Have Mercy. It’s a beautiful setting of the Invocation of The Great Litany, petitioning the Holy Trinity for mercy. Listen here.
Advent Resources
A couple of resources I have found remarkably insightful and strengthening in this time are Waiting on the Word: a poem a day for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany by Malcolm Guite. As a poet of some renown, and Anglican priest, Guite writes excellent and thoughtful biblical and literary commentary on each of the poems by authors ancient and modern. There’s also Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas an anthology of readings from authors like C. S. Lewis, Dorothy Day, and T. S. Eliot. Both books can be opened at leisure or followed as a guide to daily devotions. Either way, their subtle and beautiful reflections on the true meaning of this season will give new dimension to the phrase “holiday preparations”.
Steve+
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Christmas Giving Opportunities—Redeemer is partnering again this year with The Salvation Army Annapolis Corps for two of their annual initiatives: The Red Kettle Campaign and Project Angel Tree. More about these Sunday.
AACS Lessons and Carols—Friday, December 5, 6:00pm, the Annapolis Area Christian School’s Chorus and Madrigal Singers will host a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Ladies’ Advent Tea at Tutbury—Saturday, December 6, 3:00–5:00pm. RSVP to Lauren Wishart or Christa Dittmar.
Redeemer Annual Meeting—Next Sunday following worship and a light brunch. Our Annual Meeting is a crucial event in the life of our church. It’s where we review the current year and talk about vision, priorities, and resource needs for the year upcoming.
Lessons and Carols and Wine and Favorite Hors d’ Oeuvres Reception—Christmas Eve, 5:00pm
Christmas Day Holy Communion—11:00am
Men’s Bible Study—Thursdays, 7:00am @ 1309
Photo: Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
