Merry Christmas! Sounds weird in September, right? Well, it is. And yet, it was lovely to hear it today. The Diocese of Georgia’s fall clergy conference wrapped up at Honey Creek today with a closing eucharist, as it always does. This time around, however, the liturgy was crafted as if today were Christmas Day. In fact, our entire worship schedule was built around Advent, with our four other worship services centered on the four weeks of Advent, wrapping up with Christmas at the end.
It turns out these days seem to fit well with Advent themes. The sense of anticipation and hope; waiting for better days; faith in the face of challenges. The themes were spot on with life in September 2021, and I found myself transported to a season that won’t start for another two months. The preaching always rotates around various clergy, often new clergy in the diocese, and this year was no different. The preachers were asked not to preach to colleagues at clergy conference in September, but to imagine preaching to their congregations in Advent.
The preaching was top notch at each of the services, and it also made for some laughter when a preacher would reference something so far out of place, like Christmas lights needing to get put up. When we sang all the standard Christmas carols in the Honey Creek chapel this morning, my heart was full of the joy that permeates Christmas each year in its normal time slot. It was an unexpected gift I didn’t know I needed.
In truth, most of our church seasons can relate to most anytime. Such is the truth of the way the Spirit moves among us. I don’t often think to do it on my own, but Christmas in September? Lent in October? Who knows what might work, until we try it on and see what God has to say to us. Maybe there’s more time-bending liturgy to experiment with?
In the case of this conference and its worship, it was helpful to be reminded of God’s steadfast promises and faithfulness. It was a call to the faith that is sometimes a challenge after so many decades and centuries of waiting in hopeful expectation for all of those promises to be fulfilled. Hearing it in September put the incarnation in a different context, literally and figuratively, to reinforce the notion of Emmanuel – God with us – even now. The Kingdom of God has come near today. It comes near every day, if we’re open to realizing it.
If you’re tired and weary; if you’re anxious or frustrated; if you’re angry or lonely, I have a recommendation for you. Find a hymnal or a CD of Christmas music and sing along with your favorite carols for a few minutes. I think you’ll find it a beautiful and comfortable experience. I know I did.
Tom+
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
~ Collect for Advent 1
Photo Credits: Christmas Sandman by Konart, Santa at the Beach by Chaiwat Leelakojankij, both used via subscription to dreamstime.com.