For
example, my German grandparents would decorate the tree, including
real candles, on Christmas Eve afternoon and attend a Christmas
Eve mass followed by a great feast and the ceremonial opening
of one present each in the wee morning hours. Christmas morning,
at my mother’s parents’ house, we had breakfast
together, got our first glimpse of the tree, and headed off
to the Methodist church for a Christmas Day service. It wasn’t
until after Christmas morning church that we were allowed to
open the presents that “Santa” brought us. Later
that evening we would head back to the home of my father’s
parents to open more presents.
The practice of these two traditions together helped me reach
the following conclusions: The Church, with its story of God
in Christ coming to live among humanity, is central to Christmas;
preparing and waiting as a church and a family is part of the
lesson of the Church’s story that needs to be lived!
The choice of music both for congregation and for choir during
the Christmas “cycle” is profoundly important if
we are going to get the “whole” story. Pastor and
musician should begin by reading together in one sitting all
of the lectionary texts from the beginning of Advent through
Epiphany—yes, Epiphany, the oldest part of the
Christmas tradition and the end of the Advent-Christmas cycle.
One quickly discovers how impoverished our celebrations have
become when held up against the grand scope of the readings.
Advent is both about preparing for the coming of God
in Christ to live among us as well as at the end of time, the
second coming (Parousia!) The first Sunday in Advent
begins with the end of time, planets spinning out of their courses,
cataclysm, fires. Will you be ready? There is not a single reference
to a baby in a manger, not even a hint. The music (and the preaching)
should focus on hymns and anthems like “O Day of God,
Draw Nigh,” “Lo, He Comes On Clouds Descending,”
and “Sleepers, Wake!” (Don’t put that one
after the sermon.) The second and third Sundays in Advent focus
on the coming just reign of God, introducing John the Baptist
and the transforming nature of the God who is coming to save
us. (Still no hint of a baby!) The final Advent Sunday is about
Mary—the first to say “yes” to God’s
call to discipleship—and about the nature of Jesus Christ,
the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy, Emmanuel—“God
with us” (still no baby). Have we cheated our church out
of a much deeper understanding of discipleship as exhibited
by Mary’s call and steadfastness by ignoring her? Hymn
and choral settings of the Magnificat abound. (The
Magnificat is sometimes referred to as The Gospel
of Mary. —Editor)
The Christmas period extends from late Christmas Eve through
January 6, Epiphany, and often comprises three Sundays. The
lessons for these Sundays are well worth exploring, as they
deal with the nature of God in flesh and our treatment of God
from the moment of Christ’s birth. Epiphany is about glorious
light, sharing the news with the world, the arrival of the three
Magi in the presence of the Christ child, and sharing the gift
of “God with us” with the world. Two good resources
to help you present a more full picture of this season are the
Handbook for the Revised Common Lectionary, edited
by Peter C. Bower, and Call to Worship.
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