NoblePastor? Ha!

I am currently working with a group of folks who serve urban churches–both clergy and lay–who are preparing to raise the cause of churches in the city to a higher profile in our region. It’s a hopeful project in the midst of the current rough reality for many metropolitan churches, whose hey-days have long since past.

Last month we were trying to schedule a next meeting, and our moderator asked if it made sense to plan one during the second week of December, smack in the middle of the church season of Advent. The general feeling in the group was energetic and were gaining some momentum in our strategizing. I, riding that forward-moving wave, spoke up and said sardonically, “Who gives a crap about Advent?? In a couple of months it is conceivable that one or two of the churches represented around this table may not be opening its doors anymore.” There was some cautious laughter in the room, and a few nodding of heads, and we went on to schedule our next meeting on the appointed December date.

Since then, I’ve noticed a couple of other things. One was the exasperating energy used by the chair of our church’s Discipleship Ministry. She was looking all over the church for the advent wreath she had purchased just the year before. Everything was turned upside down throughout the church and the d@^n wreath never presented itself. In a flurry, she set out to order a new one, so that we could at least get it on the second Sunday of Advent (we’d have to use the old one for one week!). Then the prodigal wreath was found–where it was believed to have been in the first place–in a mis-marked box. Hallelujah!

Don’t get me wrong–I really enjoy the lighting of candles during the season of Advent. It is an invitation for multiple generations of folks to share in the liturgy of the church. Each candlelighting marks the slow march towards Christmas Day; we’re given the opportunity to ponder a fourfold set of gifts of the season: peace, love, joy, hope, or, angels, shepherds, magi, child, or, ????. The candles, the colors, the themes all add texture to our service.

But is it worth the anxiety it causes? Especially as we add to the mix, the pageants, parties, decorating, and other traditions of the season. So much time; so much effort goes into these special events that are linked to the seasons–I haven’t even mentioned what happens at Lent/Easter, or the lesser celebrated seasonal high-point, Pentecost. Each of these are firmly entrenched into the cycles of the church seasons.

There is definitely a place for them in telling the story of God, Christ, and Spirit. But I wonder if we sometimes focus on them too much. For all of the planning and executing of seasonal events, we can lose momentum on our mission. Especially in a small church (<90) like the one I serve, the people resources are already thin. Except for a participation in a few gift-giving programs for at-risk families, December is almost a lost month. the same is true in the weeks leading up to, and especially the one following, Easter. We turn inward towards our liturgical movements and away from our involvement with the community.

I wonder what some of the emerging churches are doing with church seasons. Assuming that many of the folks they are drawing are previously “unchurched”–lacking any previous Christian affiliation– I wonder if the seasons of the church year are engaging, meaningful, or relevant? I hope that some of my sisters and brothers serving such expressions of the body of Christ will share their thoughts and experiences.

I need to sign off now, it is time to concentrate on week 3 of Advent. This Sunday we will be lighting the candle representing a theme of love; I pray it will spark us to share acts of that theme with the world, during–and outside of(!)–this season of the church year.

Peace.