For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the risen Lord and Savior. Amen.
King Solomon had an excellent point when he pointed out the cycles of life. As an agricultural community we have a sense of seasons. Many of us can look out a window and witness that there really is a time for planting and a time for harvesting. There is a time for the ground to lay fallow (or frozen in our case). If we need a reminder of the cycle of human life, we can babysit a toddler and remind ourselves of how much energy wanes as we grow older. All of creation undergoes the cycle of death and life. Our lives and the world around us reflect those various cycles.
Just like the rest of life, our worship life has times and seasons. Our cycle through the year of worship lends us to focus ourselves on the whole of Christ’s time here on earth. We use music, texts, Scripture, even color and art and symbols to focus worship on the varying cycles of Christ’s coming, death, resurrection, exultation and expected return. For the next several months, we will explore the seasons of the Church Year as well as other aspects of our worship life.
Scripture readings are a huge part of focusing us through this annual cycle. Each Sunday follows the liturgical seasons and consists of an assigned reading from each of the following: the Old Testament (Acts during Easter), the Book of Psalms, the Epistles (New Testament letters) or Revelations, and the Gospel.
The revised common lectionary, (the set of assigned Scripture readings we currently use) was created by an ecumenical group, the Consultation on Common Texts, consisting of numerous liturgical denominations including the Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, UCC and American Roman Catholic. It used as a base the predecessor lectionaries used by these mainline denominations and retained the practice of focusing on one synoptic Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke) interspersed by John each year in a three year cycle. After being tested by various guinea pig congregations for 9 years, it went public in 1994 and is currently used by the majority of US and Canadian liturgical churches as a guide to worship planning.
The church year begins four weeks prior to Christmas Day with the first season – Advent. For much of the 20th century purple colored Advent, a move in the later 30 years was to distinguish Advent from Lent. Blue was used in centuries ago in Sweden and designates HOPE. The argument is that Advent is less penitential than Lent and the colors should reflect more of the hope of the season.
During Advent we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. There is some element of repentance, but there is also a great deal of expectation, hope, and joy. There is a difference in sentiment in preparing for the birth of Christ as opposed to preparing for the crucifixion. We wait with bated breath not only for the celebration of the birth of Christ, but also the second coming for which we still await.
A common liturgical fixture during Advent is the Advent Wreath. The wreath shape (circle) and materials (traditionally varying evergreen) symbolize immortality and eternity. The candles represent the four weeks and the light of Christ shining in the darkness. Various traditions have emerged regarding ways to mark each Sunday with a different motif (ie: Hope, Love, Joy, & Peace or Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd, & Angel) and corresponding devotions or prayers to coincide with each week.
The Scripture readings emphasize the foci of each season. The texts for Advent reflect the hope, preparation, expectation, joy, and promise of the birth of the Messiah. They include ‘The Magnificat’ (‘Mary’s Song’: Luke 1:46-55) often sung or spoken responsively as a psalmody, Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of Emmanuel, and decrees declared in the Gospels regarding both the first and second coming of Christ.
As we begin this life-giving cycle again on November 29th, focus yourselves on the rhythm of Christ’s promise, birth, death, resurrection, ascension and continued presence in our lives and world. The Lectionary readings are printed each month (including a summary of the readings each Sunday) in the Newsletter and posted under the Pray & Worship tab on the parish website to enhance your own worship experience. The grace and peace of God which surpass all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the risen Christ Jesus through all the seasons of the year and your life. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Carla
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
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