Advent for the rest of us

by Mark Hinds,
general editor for curriculum development for Congregational Ministries Publishing

The assignment as I received it was to write about family activities for Advent — or was it Advent activities for families? Anyway, as I reflected on the assignment, I thought, “I’m certainly an odd choice to write this article.” Divorced for more than two years; kids grown and out of the nest. What do I know about family Advent activities?

On further reflection, I decided that I didn’t want to write about family Advent activities. That’s all I ever see — Advent family candlelighting, Advent family carol singing, Advent family craft projects, Advent family this, Advent family that! When the kids were little, our nuclear family lit our fair share of candles. But what about middle-aged, single, empty nesters’ Advent activities? Advent and Christmas always seem to focus on the family, especially the children. And why not? Most Advent celebrations concentrate on the coming of baby Jesus. Kids love that story. Little girls love to be Mary; little boys endure portraying the shepherds or even better, the sheep. Whip out the cameras, Mom and Dad! How adorable!

And why do we need more activities? Aren’t we in the church about activity-ed out? When I was a pastor, one of the recurring congregational refrains of the late fall-early winter was something like, “Pastor, I wish I could find some peace in my Advent-Christmas celebrations. What should I do?” I frequently replied, “Less.” Do less.

Consider it a spiritual practice — do less this Advent. Work less, if you can. Eat less. Drink less. Worry less. Spend less. Shop less. Travel less.

And play more. Sleep more. Allot more time and energy for yourself. Pray more with fewer words. Light more candles. Drink more water. Read a good book slowly.

Pledge to give money to a local agency that you believe in, like a homeless shelter or another agency your congregation supports. But before you give your money, visit the agency. Roll up your sleeves and dig in. Serve a meal to the hungry. Help build a house for a low-income family.

Gather with other adults, no more than six or seven. You could meet weekly, but once might be enough. Yes, light candles, say a simple prayer, share a simple meal to which everyone contributes something; watch a fun, nostalgic Christmas movie; sing carols, familiar and
unfamiliar. And read Revelation 12:1–6. Don’t immediately try to understand it with your brain; understand it first — linger with it for a while — with your emotional intelligence.

And join with a congregation to worship on the Lord’s Day. Do it without resentment or bitterness at the church’s focus on children. Offer a silent prayer of gratitude for the children, especially the runny-nosed shepherd in the back row.

If you are single or an empty nester, celebrate a grown-up Advent this year. Advent means “coming.” Something — someone is coming. He’s already come once. We do not seek the infant Jesus. No, we look for the
one that John the Baptist warned us about, the one who will separate the
wheat from the chaff (Matthew. 3:12, Luke 3:17); the returning victorious
Christ, who has already defeated and continues to defeat the power of sin and death; the power of greed and the marring of the image of God in all; the power of loneliness, sickness, and a relentless advance toward an uncertain future. That’s the Christ I seek, the one I expect.

This is the Christ we can really get upset about — he promised to return. Why the delay? Advent takes on an urgent tone, then. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Maranatha!