Rejoice!
16/12/12 05:25
The traditional Latin mass for today begins with these words:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.”—Philippians 4:4
In the traditions of our people today is called Gaudete Sunday for the first word. The traditions have evolved to enable this Sunday to stand out from the other Sundays of Advent. In our church, the candles of the Advent wreath for the other Sundays of Advent are purple, but today’s candle is pink or rose colored. While the rest of the world has been playing and singing Christmas carols for weeks, now, we have been waiting and singing Advent carols. But today we will sing some of the songs of Christmas.
In our congregation our children will lead the service of worship. There will be a skit that resembles a traditional Christmas pageant, with Mary and Joseph and the baby. There will be a remembrance of angels and shepherds. It is not that we don’t want to teach our children the traditions of waiting and anticipation. It is that we understand that telling our stories is one of the best ways of learning them. Sometimes our children tell the stories of our people better than we.
In today’s world, there are challenges involved in working with children that we did not anticipate earlier in our careers. Somewhere between fifteen and twenty years ago we noticed that we needed to make room in children’s Christmas programs for children and youth who would not be at rehearsals, but who would show up for the program expecting to have a place. Children whose lives (or the lives of whose parents) are too busy to participate in regular church school classes, come to church in this season expecting to be placed up front and to appear in a pageant. They love the costumes and the positions in the front of the church. And their parents can be insistent.
The scriptures for today are clear, however. We are not to complain, but rather to rejoice.
In previous generations the cycles of fasting and feasting were more intense. The season of Advent was once six weeks long instead of the modern four. The focus was on repentance. More than a few preachers spoke harsh words to congregants who were expected to approach the season with prayer and fasting. In parts of Northern Europe, hard times with scarce food often came during winter. In days before central heating churches were cold places and the people endured a great deal in their preparations for the coming of Christmas.
Times have changed. We don’t speak of fasting much. There is little talk of sacrifice. Churches seem to be so desperate for members these days that there is little mention of the costs of discipleship. The first mention that there are things that need to be changed will send some people heading for the doors. There is no question that there are many who expect us to entertain children and adults alike. There is no shortage of churches with theatre seating, surround-sound and huge projection screens where members are allowed to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
But all of this is close to complaining on my part and complaining is not the mood of this day. In the midst of a season of repentance and preparation we set aside one day for the joy of the day. Anticipation is not all grim. Waiting can be joyful. That for which we are preparing is worthy of joyous anticipation.
The readings for today include the harsh words of John the Baptist. He calls some of his listeners a “brood of vipers.” We think of John as a rather fierce character, living out in the desert, eating a strange diet and preaching his call to repent. But, as usual, there is more to the story.
We hear of John’s first encounter with joy early in the narrative of Luke. The gospel reports that the leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the presence of Mary, who was expecting Jesus. (Luke 1:44) And the same sermon that begins, “You brood of vipers!” includes joyful advice on how to live: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has one; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Right in the midst of John’s exhortations in Luke 3:7-18 is a description of the lives we are called to live.
In a little while we will be plunged into chaos as we prepare for worship. My usual quiet time of prayer and quiet before worship will not be there today. There will be youth who couldn’t attend a rehearsal who need to read through their parts. There will be children who arrive and don’t know where they are to go to get their costumes. There will be busy hands playing with expensive microphones and props that have to be put in their place over and over again. There will be parents who are a bit frantic trying to get the best place to make a video recording of their children. There will be ushers who are trying to sort things out but who don’t know the answers to the questions. Chaos will reign. I will spend the entire service going back and forth from the front of the sanctuary to help children and the back to adjust the controls on the sound system. I’ll make a lot of trips up and down the stairs.
It will be close to noon before I can take a deep breath and relax.
But one of the things that we learned again this week is that these children are precious. They are vulnerable. They are worthy of our time and our attention and our sacrifice. Whatever minor inconveniences I endure today are meaningless if we are able to teach the children that God loves them and that there is always a place for them in the heart of the church.
It is as the prophet foretold. As we journey through Advent, “a little child shall lead . . .”
It is a day of joy! Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!”
“Gauydete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.”—Philippians 4:4
In the traditions of our people today is called Gaudete Sunday for the first word. The traditions have evolved to enable this Sunday to stand out from the other Sundays of Advent. In our church, the candles of the Advent wreath for the other Sundays of Advent are purple, but today’s candle is pink or rose colored. While the rest of the world has been playing and singing Christmas carols for weeks, now, we have been waiting and singing Advent carols. But today we will sing some of the songs of Christmas.
In our congregation our children will lead the service of worship. There will be a skit that resembles a traditional Christmas pageant, with Mary and Joseph and the baby. There will be a remembrance of angels and shepherds. It is not that we don’t want to teach our children the traditions of waiting and anticipation. It is that we understand that telling our stories is one of the best ways of learning them. Sometimes our children tell the stories of our people better than we.
In today’s world, there are challenges involved in working with children that we did not anticipate earlier in our careers. Somewhere between fifteen and twenty years ago we noticed that we needed to make room in children’s Christmas programs for children and youth who would not be at rehearsals, but who would show up for the program expecting to have a place. Children whose lives (or the lives of whose parents) are too busy to participate in regular church school classes, come to church in this season expecting to be placed up front and to appear in a pageant. They love the costumes and the positions in the front of the church. And their parents can be insistent.
The scriptures for today are clear, however. We are not to complain, but rather to rejoice.
In previous generations the cycles of fasting and feasting were more intense. The season of Advent was once six weeks long instead of the modern four. The focus was on repentance. More than a few preachers spoke harsh words to congregants who were expected to approach the season with prayer and fasting. In parts of Northern Europe, hard times with scarce food often came during winter. In days before central heating churches were cold places and the people endured a great deal in their preparations for the coming of Christmas.
Times have changed. We don’t speak of fasting much. There is little talk of sacrifice. Churches seem to be so desperate for members these days that there is little mention of the costs of discipleship. The first mention that there are things that need to be changed will send some people heading for the doors. There is no question that there are many who expect us to entertain children and adults alike. There is no shortage of churches with theatre seating, surround-sound and huge projection screens where members are allowed to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
But all of this is close to complaining on my part and complaining is not the mood of this day. In the midst of a season of repentance and preparation we set aside one day for the joy of the day. Anticipation is not all grim. Waiting can be joyful. That for which we are preparing is worthy of joyous anticipation.
The readings for today include the harsh words of John the Baptist. He calls some of his listeners a “brood of vipers.” We think of John as a rather fierce character, living out in the desert, eating a strange diet and preaching his call to repent. But, as usual, there is more to the story.
We hear of John’s first encounter with joy early in the narrative of Luke. The gospel reports that the leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the presence of Mary, who was expecting Jesus. (Luke 1:44) And the same sermon that begins, “You brood of vipers!” includes joyful advice on how to live: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has one; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Right in the midst of John’s exhortations in Luke 3:7-18 is a description of the lives we are called to live.
In a little while we will be plunged into chaos as we prepare for worship. My usual quiet time of prayer and quiet before worship will not be there today. There will be youth who couldn’t attend a rehearsal who need to read through their parts. There will be children who arrive and don’t know where they are to go to get their costumes. There will be busy hands playing with expensive microphones and props that have to be put in their place over and over again. There will be parents who are a bit frantic trying to get the best place to make a video recording of their children. There will be ushers who are trying to sort things out but who don’t know the answers to the questions. Chaos will reign. I will spend the entire service going back and forth from the front of the sanctuary to help children and the back to adjust the controls on the sound system. I’ll make a lot of trips up and down the stairs.
It will be close to noon before I can take a deep breath and relax.
But one of the things that we learned again this week is that these children are precious. They are vulnerable. They are worthy of our time and our attention and our sacrifice. Whatever minor inconveniences I endure today are meaningless if we are able to teach the children that God loves them and that there is always a place for them in the heart of the church.
It is as the prophet foretold. As we journey through Advent, “a little child shall lead . . .”
It is a day of joy! Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!”