Advent for Frazzled People: 1

A Small Group Discussion designed for those of us who need a little help and a lot of grace staying in the spirit of the holiday season.

Inspiration from the Gospel According to Luke (Chapter 1), Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent* (Enuma Okoro), The Mood of Christmas* (Howard Thurman), and the collective experiences of the group.

(*No Purchase Necessary)

Week 1. Hope

Week 2. Love

Week 3. Joy

Week 4. Peace

Also worthy of note: “Jesus Crisis” a daily devotional from the UCC (featuring some of the writings of Pastor Matt) is available for download by clicking HERE

Gathering Prayer: Holy One who is known to us by many names and in many ways, we give thanks for the blessings that we have in our lives. You know the thoughts of our hearts; hear our prayers. Be present now as we enter a time of thoughts and discussion

Focus: Advent is a time of preparation and waiting. Luke begins his Gospel with the advent story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Like the people of Israel, theirs is a story of great faith and unfulfilled longing. The couple had long hoped for a child, the people longed for a leader to remove the bonds of Empire. As we have all experienced, all times of hopeful waiting have a mixture of emotions including doubt, lamentation, remembrance, and perhaps, a prayer request of God.

Sentences on the Subject: “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.” (Luke 1)

“Advent is a season to ponder, to listen, to understand that prayer is as much about cultivating stillness and attentiveness as it is about offering our words to God. This listening for God is a difficult business. It requires a willingness to be patient and to be still. It requires disciplining ourselves to consistent times of sitting quietly before God and waiting for God to meet us in that space.” (E.O. Pg 8)

“In its peculiar way lamenting is an act of faith because it speaks to our understanding that things are not as they should be…..Perhaps the more difficult part of lamenting comes in maintaining some element, no matter how small, of trusting that God is living and able, trusting in the inherent goodness of God, and recognizing that God too understands that in a broken world, things are not always as they should be. Lament in this manner is one more attempt at faithful living.” (E.O.. Pg 19-20)

“Praying for one another can be a beautiful way of acknowledging the demands, perseverance, and vulnerability that authentic faith requires of us. The words we offer on behalf of one another testify to our belief that God has indeed created us as a body and as a priesthood of believers whose actions matter to God.” (E.O. Pg 23)

“Sometimes when we find ourselves too burdened by the extent of our longings, too prayed out, or too exhausted with coming before God, we can look to others to bear our burdens prayerfully until we regain our own strength of spirit. A believing community shoulders hope when circumstances seem hopeless. A believing community speaks boldly into despair and longing and suggests that things do not have to remain as they are in the presence of a holy, imaginative God.”(E.O. Pg 23)

“Hope — Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us…A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.” (Barack Obama )

“I will light the candle a fellowship this Christmas. I know that the experiences of unity in human relations are more compelling than the concepts, the fears, the prejudices, which divide. Despite the tendency to feel my race superior, my nation the greatest nation, my faith the true faith, I must beat down the boundaries of my exclusiveness until my sense of separateness is completely involved in a sense of fellowship. There must be free and easy access by all, to all the rich resources accumulated by groups and individuals in years of living and experiencing. I will light the candle of fellowship this Christmas, a candle that must burn all the year long.” (H.T. Pg 20)

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Below is some “food for thought”, a few probes that might kick start a conversation. Read over them and pick one (or more, or none) to discuss. Remember to hold space for others to share and share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Probe 1. The word ‘Advent’ literally means ‘coming’ – it’s derived from the Latin word ‘Adventus‘. Think of a time when you hopefully awaited the “coming” of a person or an event. What were your feelings?

Probe 2. On an almost daily basis, events suggest that justice will not prevail, that “things are not as they should be.” This is an ancient feeling; in the 1860s, Longfellow wrote, “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’I said; ‘For hate is strong, And mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’. Okoro suggests that lamentation “is one more attempt at faithful living.” This scene from The West Wing is a modern-day depiction of lamentations (Click to see 3-minute video clip Two Cathedrals). When have you been ‘just so frustrated that….’ ? How can frustration and lamentation be part of authentic faith?

Probe 3. Thurman writes of lighting a candle of fellowship, a concept of which both COVID and politics have conspired to deprive us. What fellowships existed in the past that have seemed to disappear? Do you think that they will return? What might take their place?

Probe 4. Okoro writes of the “power of a believing community”, “authentic faith”, & “priesthood of all believers.” What do those phrases mean to you? How does an individual or a congregation live into those ideals?

Take Away. Mediating over a lighted candle is a common religious practice. If you don’t have an Advent wreath, perhaps you can create a space that holds one candle. As you light it, remember this little poem by Howard Thurman:

Lighting the Christmas Candles.

I will light candles this Christmas,

Candles of joy despite all the sadness,

Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,

Candles of courage for fears ever present,

Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,

Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,

Candles of love to inspire all my living,

Candles that will burn all year long.

Commission: Hold on to what is good. Love deeply. Honor others. Stay excited about life and your faith. Be joyful. Be patient. If you pray, have faith. Share with people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. Be loving to those who hurt you. Be present; be in the moment. Be kind, even toward those with whom you disagree. Be humble. Be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Do the right thing. If possible, live in peace with everyone. And remember, no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey- you are welcome here.