The War on ... Advent?

November 18, 2014

Brace yourselves, everyone.  The “War on Christmas” is coming.

It seems like we go through this every year.  Self-appointed cultural critics bemoan the replacement of Christmas trees with “Holiday Trees,” the renaming of school Christmas concerts as “Winter Concerts,” and the removal of nativities and crèches from public display.  Never mind the fact that these same critics may be among the millions on Black Friday battling for bargains and slugging it out with fellow shoppers for big screen televisions.  Little do they realize that their mad dash for the checkout lines will do more to demean the sacredness of this season than the store clerk who wishes them “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” 

For my part, I choose not to get involved in this alleged “War on Christmas.”  For one thing, I really admire the words of my Florida Bishop Ken Carter, who once advised followers of Jesus today to be “pacifists in the culture war.” 

Besides, this whole hullabaloo over “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas” is really a false choice to begin with.  As far as the church is concerned, Black Friday does not begin the Christmas season, so wishing each other “Merry Christmas” before Christmas Eve is quite the misnomer.  And it’s not even accurate to say “Happy Holidays,” since the “holy days” of Christmas and Epiphany are also further down the road. 

The most accurate thing we can say, really, is “Blessed Advent.”  (Imagine the look on the face of the store clerk when you say that.)  Advent is the season that we observe starting November 30.  It is the four weeks of preparation that we mark with the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, with symbols of wreath candles and Chrismon trees. 

Despite what cultural zealots might want us to believe, the real war going on is not against Christmas.  It’s against Advent.  It is waged by an instant, on-demand society that wants to skip right past Advent, right past the preparation, right past the waiting, and observe Christmas much too soon. 

The bottom line:  do you want to "keep the Christ in Christmas?”  Then observe Advent first. 

#PICTUREADVENT

So here’s a practical way I’m inviting all of us to observe Advent together.  I would love for you to participate in a new project that I have been working on with some fellow clergy friends over the past few months.  It is called #PictureAdvent, and we have written a collection of daily devotional readings that can be sent directly to your email inbox starting the first day of Advent, on November 30.  Each reading is centered on a key word for the day, such as “light,” “prepare,” “darkness,” “share,” and “Immanuel,” that will focus your heart and mind on your own spiritual preparation for Christmas. 

In addition to reading the daily message, there is a family activity that you and your kids or grandkids can do together for a hands-on experience of the daily key word.  Sometimes it will be a craft, other times it will be an act of kindness or service for others.  This will be a great way to remind everyone in your family that this season is not just about purchasing and wrapping presents:  often, the best gift you can give is yourself, and quality time with your family.

Finally, you are invited to participate by sharing a photo on Facebook or Twitter that captures your creative imagination and your own artistic interpretation of the daily key words.  The resulting "cyber gallery" will be a collective conversation among hundreds of other Advent pilgrims, sharing the ways that the Spirit is moving each of us in hopeful anticipation of Christ’s birth into our lives.

All you need to do is sign up with your name and email address, on the website www.lecfamily.org/advent or by simply clicking here.  The cost, of course, is totally free. 

To date, there have been over two hundred individuals from about ten different states who have jumped on board, and the number is expected to grow over the next two weeks.  I am hopeful that many of us in this congregation will sign up, as it will form the basis of our Advent sermon series this year, simply called “Picture Advent.”  It will be a great way for each of us to connect with God (through the daily devotional readings) and each other (through the shared pictures) as we journey to Bethlehem once again.

 Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

531 W. Main St.

Cherokee, IA  51012

Ph:  712-225-3955

Email:  mdevega@sp-umc.org

THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON AND COMMITMENT SUNDAY

This Sunday is the culmination of our stewardship campaign and our “Kingdom of God” sermon series.  You are invited to bring your completed commitment card to worship, if you haven’t turned it in already.  And after the service, join us in the dining hall for our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, featuring turkey and all the trimmings.  You don’t need to bring a dish to share, and a free will donation will be received. 

To view past editions of the Mid-Week Message, visit  http://mdevega.blogspot.com. 

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