Pastor’s Corner “The Advent of Advent”

Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding,

Christ is nigh, it seems to say;

“Cast aware the works of darkness,

O ye children of the day.”(Latin hymn, sixth century)

This first Saturday in November, my daughter came home humming the Christmas music that they had started to play at the café where she works. I wanted to shout, “Not yet! Too soon!” The grumpy traditionalist in me wants all things Christmasy to wait at least until December, if not until Christmas Eve itself.

At the same time, however, the early onset of Christmas can point to the deeper yearning within all people. All people are ready for joy, for community, for generosity, for celebration, for light to come into their lives. Christmas is a beautiful, communal expression of that light, and so it’s not only children who can barely stand waiting for the coming of Christmas!

And yet, wait we must. As Anglican Christians, our liturgical calendar invites us to enter the waiting with a joyful, sober intention. The season of Advent, which this year begins Sunday, November 30, orients our hearts and minds to the coming of Jesus. Unlike our surrounding culture, we look beyond the cozy sentiments to a deeper, more hopeful Reality. This Advent season calls us to “rightly approach the manger—for we know that there, wrapped in swaddling clothes, is the Savior whose glorious return is indeed our blessed hope, ‘our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.’” (Kelli Trujillo)

Although it may seem like I’m joining the “too soon” chorus of Christmas marketing, I want to give you a preview of the opportunities Immanuel is offering for this Advent Season:

·    Welcome to Advent: On Saturday, November 29, from 10am-11am, we’ll meet in the Nave for a brief time of learning about Advent, singing a few songs, and creating “Jesse Tree” ornaments that tell the Story from creation to Christmas. Register now to participate!

·    One Service Sunday: Sunday, November 30, we will enter Advent as one congregation by having only one service at 9:30am. This will be a contemplative service formed by Advent liturgy (including lighting the Advent Wreath), and worshiping with words and quiet rather than music. Children’s Church and the Nursery will still be offered.

·    Advent Oasis: Join us each Wednesday for a midweek reorientation to the Coming of Christ. Soup and salad at 5:30pm, activities at 6pm, and chanted Compline at 7pm. Come for any or all of it!

·    Carols and Lighting of the Nativity: Sunday evening, December 21 we will gather at 5pm to sing Christmas Carols and light up our outdoor Nativity Scene.

·    Christmas Eve Services: December 24^th we will offer two candlelight Christmas Eve services, one at 5pm and one at 8pm.

I encourage you to create space in your calendars now for these gatherings, each one an opportunity for participating in the Hope-Full waiting of Advent.

Your Pastor in Christ,