From the Pastor

December 2009

I love the season of Advent. I enjoy the scripture readings, the blue paraments on the altar, pulpit, and lectern, the Advent wreath and banners, the hymns ... All of these things help me to look ahead expectantly to the birth of Christ at Christmas. As I watch, wait, and prepare, I am drawn closer to the mystery of the Incarnation and to the presence of Jesus Christ in my life and in the world.

The world does not love Advent. The world does not like to wait, watch, and prepare. The world pushes and pushes and then pushes some more–right to 25 December. The world loves Christmas—and in the world, the season begins on 1 November and ends abruptly on 26 December, when the season is just beginning in the Church.

This is nothing new. We all know that we keep time differently in the Church. The question is how can we be more mindful of Christmas by embracing Advent and its days and message to the fullest? How can we watch, wait, and prepare in ways far more meaningful than shopping, baking, and over-indulging? How can we make Christmas matter more ... by waiting expectantly through the four weeks leading up to it? How can we avoid the letdown—physical, emotional, and spiritual—that so often follows the Christmas Day celebration? How can we have the meaning of Christmas last beyond Christmas Day? How can Advent help us to have the message of Christmas sustain us long after the food is eaten, the gifts unwrapped, and the decorations packed away?

I think there are some simple and yet very meaningful steps we can take. The first is to spend time with the scripture. Advent lifts up wonderful passages from the Bible. Don’t just listen to them on Sunday. Read and re-read them during the week. Read an Advent devotional, either the one written by our Holy Redeemer family or others. How do these words of scripture and words of personal reflection and faith call us to prepare for the birth of our Messiah and the Good News he brings? What do they teach us about God and God’s love for all the world? Why do they still matter, to us and to the world?

Pay careful attention to the hymns in worship. What message do they bring? How does the message help prepare our hearts to receive our King?

And spend some time thinking about giving. I know that there is joy in giving gifts to those people we care about; I, too, enjoy finding a gift that I believe has meaning and will bring enjoyment. But ... Must we try to outdo last year in terms of gifts? Is there anyone is our lives who might value the gift of some of our time more than anything else? Those who love us will still love us even if we do not lavish them with material things.

And what about those who have no one to give them gifts? Yes, we have the opportunity to give each year at Holy Redeemer through the Christmas Family project, but where else could some of our resources go in this season? Each year, as a part of my personal reflection and gratitude in this season, I add up the amount of money I have spent on gifts for others. I then take 10% of that total and give that amount away—to any one of a number of worthy causes or institutions. This might not be feasible for everyone, but perhaps we could all be a bit more mindful of our resources with regard to those who have less abundance than we do in this season.

God has been so amazingly generous to us: through his Son, through the Church, and the through the gift of our relationships with others. How can we respond in intentional and grateful ways? How can the joy we feel in this season sustain us and others throughout the year?

God’s blessings to you in this Advent, Christmas, and always.

In Christ,
Pastor Brenda