December Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
As we turn the calendar to December, we have already begun the season of Advent, which began last Sunday, November 27 and will continue for the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Eve. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, which means arrival or coming. Advent is the season in which Christians prepare for Christmas, to celebrate the birth of Jesus (his first Advent), and to anticipate his coming again (his second Advent) to make all things new.
Although the meaning is the same, Advent customs vary greatly around the world, as featured in a CNN Travel article “What is Advent?” by Forrest Brown:
Chinese Christians light up their homes with colorful paper lanterns during Advent, and you might find red paper pagodas cut out and placed in windows. They follow many of the traditions that were brought by Western missionaries.
In Germany, Advent calendars may hold chocolate treats behind little doors for German children.
Hungarians are a music-loving people, and various Christmas concerts are traditionally held around the capital of Budapest and other cities and towns throughout Advent.
Advent in Mexico brings the religious ceremonies known as Las Posadas (Spanish for "The Inns.") This nine-day celebration that marks the journey of Mary and Joseph is held from December 16 to 24. Each evening in cities and villages across Mexico, a child dressed as an angel leads a processional, usually made up of children. They go to selected homes, where they are denied entry but often given refreshments.
For deeply Catholic Poland, Advent brings prayer, fasting and spiritual preparation for Christmas. People stay inside during the long, dark evenings making decorations for the Christmas tree and handmade gifts, baking Christmas cookies, and preparing other delicacies for the upcoming holidays.
In the United Kingdom, Christingles is a relatively modern tradition. You make Christingles from an orange, which you decorate with a candle, red tape and sweets. The Christingles service might involve prayers, readings and singing. It also serves as a fundraiser for children's charities.
In the United States, many different traditions are observed in a prelude to Christmas. Some Christians use an Advent calendar to observe the Christmas countdown. Each window or door that is open reveals a special toy or candy (or the latest is an Advent wine calendar) to build anticipation. Some churches use an Advent wreath in worship services, in which four candles are lit, representing hope, peace, joy, and love. At home, people read daily devotions or say prayers, in the midst of the secular practices of decorating the trees, shopping the malls, and attending the parties.
In Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, as your Pastor, during Advent, I try to resist the temptation to sing the hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” until we have sung “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Instead of a premature Christmas celebration, I invite us into a time of Advent contemplation. Instead of worshiping at the temple of consumerism, I call us to a time of countercultural living marked by the candles of the Advent wreath.
In the midst of despair, we hold onto hope.
In places of war and violence, we seek peace.
Even in times of sorrow, we find some joy.
For those heavy-burdened, we show love.
As each Advent candle is lit, we prepare for the Light of the World to come, testifying to our steadfast faith in Scripture’s promise: Jesus Christ is the light of the world–the light no darkness can overcome (John 1:5).
The most wonderful thing about the season of Advent is that something is going to happen–something always does. So, prepare. Prepare the way of the Lord.
May this Advent and Christmas be the most wonder-full time of the year: full of hope, peace, joy, love, and light. The light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Advent blessings,
Pastor Donna