Growing up in a Protest-ant Non-Denominational church left my church history lacking. For one, most protest-ants claim the beginning of their church from the 1500’s and by being in a non-denominational church we truly had no history. No sending church, no traditions to drink from. We were simply an island of faith. No advent, no liturgical calendar — we had the protest-ant basics — worship through song, sacrament, and teaching of the word. Granted, i appreciated these aspects, but after being introduced to the deep deep deep history of Christianity i began to long for something more to be connected to, something more universal that i could celebrate with more than just one church. This led me to the lectionary and the church calendar.
So this year as Kai (the new church i am a co-founder of) begins to get its feet on the ground we thought that we (the four of us, Cote Palacios, Tim Soerens, and Brooke) would participate in the Advent Season. Every Tuesday we gathered around a table with basic food, and read the lectionary readings and ended our time in prayer. Then, this past week, since we are a week ahead because of travel schedules we had an Advent Feast complete with King Salmon, Shrimp, Sweet Potatoes, Eggplant, and Cheese cake for Dessert. For a variety of reasons, as we sat around the table on tuesday we all recognized that this advent was the most anticipatory advent we had ever experienced. The last month had been dark and heavy for all of us and as food often does, this food enabled conversation and a coming together around our collective grieve and collective sin. Tears were shed, laughs were laughed and as the night closed we all sighed a sigh of relieve that we have hope, that sin and grieve is not the end of the story.
So here is to an Advent season that was truly a waiting period for the coming of Christ. And next week as we officially celebrate Jesus’ birthday I know that I am incredibly grateful that life after death (both metaphorical and physical) are possible through the baby that Mary brought into this world 2000+ years ago.
blessings
joel
Hi Joel,
loved your words re advent. when i became a born again christian in my mid 20’s i shed my catholic past like an old smelly coat only to dig it out again many years later when i realized how much i missed the richness of the liturgical foundation of my childhood. so i love hearing how your church is seeking an incarnational understanding of time, as God continues to be revealed in the experiences and events of your lives as a church body!
advent blessings,
roberta (i guess i am now the third person who reads your blog!)