The Gift You’ll Bring
As we approach the first Sunday in the season of Advent and as we consider the theme of peace that is introduced through our primary resource “Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience” by Magrey Devega, Ingrid McIntyre, April Casperson and Matt Rawle, the powerful hymn “What Gift Can We Bring” seems to resonate with increasing volume. Conversations about the season of Advent can sometimes suggest an anachronistic emphasis that is completely out of step and out of touch with the modern world. For several weeks, stores, radio stations, television networks and vacation venues have been proclaiming the season of Christmas. In a weird twist of the popular Christmas song sung by Johnny Mathis, instead of singing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” we could easily scream ‘It’s Been Looking a Lot Like Christmas!’
So much of the emphasis has focused upon maximizing the opportunity for profit. Many businesses rely upon Christmas to move the ledgers from red to black—the revenue generated at Christmas marks the highest grossing portion of the fiscal year. Perhaps the greatest tragedy and irony of this time of the year is the attitude of the world on December 26th. Stores can’t seem to move-on to the next season fast enough. The treasured, “must-have” items become deeply discounted drains upon their inventory.
While those attitudes and perspectives are expected from anyone or anything motivated simply by profit, Devaga and colleagues invite us to reflect upon a different source of motivation—a sincere desire to experience the lasting gifts of the season of Advent. Peace, Hope, Love and Joy are the gifts that should characterize our lives; not only for a season, but daily throughout the year. By delving into John Wesley’s sermon “Almost Christian,” we are invited to examine our souls with several penetrating questions. Among them are (1) Do I even appear on the outside to be Christian; (2) Am I willing to go a step further and be an “altogether Christian;” (3) Do I love everyone, even my enemies, even the enemies of God, as my own soul; and (4) Do I love others as Christ has loved me?
The second verse of Jane Marshall’s hymn grasps the depths and heights of her aspirations by intoning the words
“Give thanks for the past, for those who had vision,
who planted and watered so dreams could come true.
Give thanks for the now, for study, for worship,
for mission that bids us turn prayer into deed.”
The celebrations and observances of Christmas are often neatly packaged in the nostalgia of yesterday and the fickle novelty of tomorrow. The “happy endings,” the “perfect picturesque scenes,” and the “heart-warming productions” at church and other theaters should be challenged by Marshall’s lyric that simply instructs to turn prayer into deed.
Much money, much angst, many disappointments and many frustrations will accompany gatherings during the upcoming seasons. Let us seek the gift of peace during this season of Advent. Hopefully, the gift of peace won’t be missed because we failed to bring it.
We’re looking forward to seeing you in worship and class on Sunday mornings. Don’t forget the new worship times that begin Sunday: 8:30; 10:00 and 11:30. We will also have three worship services on Christmas Eve at 5:00, 7:00 and 11:00. The Blue Christmas service for those who are still grieving the loss of a loved one will be held Sunday, December 22, at 5:00. Invite your neighbors, relatives, friends, colleagues, strangers and enemies to worship with you during this Advent season.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
