Advent: a season of waiting and preparation

Happy New Year! Did you know that Advent is the beginning of the liturgical (worship-based) year for the Christian church? In this season of waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ - both Christ's coming in the birth of Jesus and Christ's coming again/continually in our lives and the world to bring about the New Heaven and New Earth - we traditionally read passages from the Bible that describe the Israelites' longings for a messiah, an anointed one from God who would bring God's will to life in the midst of oppression and exile, renewing the ancient covenant. We also read about the people in the gospels who recognized and proclaimed that God was about to do something new in the person of Jesus. And some of the passages in the lectionary readings relate to early Christians' anticipation of the return of Christ to "make all things new," and to initiate the reign of God on earth.

Obviously, our culture's tendency to commercialize holy days and encourage overindulgence are not very compatible with the theological focus of Advent on waiting, keeping watch, preparing, and celebrating something so small as the birth of a child and so radical as the entrance of the divine Creator into the flesh and blood of humankind. Questions to reflect on might include, What are you waiting for in your own life? How are you making room for Christ to be born in you?

If you would like to learn more about the meaning of Advent, or would like to take some time for intentional reflection in the midst of this hectic time, you are invited to join the Advent study group on Tuesday nights (below). You may also wish to spend a little time each day in reading or meditation; in addition to the many fine print resources available for Advent (check out Cokesbury's selection, for example), you might consider The Upper Room's daily Advent reflections or study guide. If you're not already in the habit of daily devotional reading, you may be surprised at how much difference 5-10 minutes a day of focusing on God can make for your sense of grounding and spiritual wellbeing.

On a more communal note, this week Highlands UMC offers a number of opportunities to get into the spirit of the season (in case "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" at the mall doesn't work for you):

Tuesday, November 29, 7:00 p.m. Advent study group begins, using Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas, by Jan Richardson (details below). Books will be available for purchase at the gathering, which will last approximately an hour.

Saturday, December 3, 2:00 p.m. Hanging of the Greens. All are welcome to come for some holiday cheer with hot cider and cookies, Christmas music, and good fellowship as we decorate the church for the season. If you would like to help provide refreshments or teach a craft to others, please contact the church.

Sunday, December 4, Rev. Betty Bradford will preach on our Advent theme of Peace, as we remember that one title for Jesus as Christ is "Prince of Peace." Guest singers from the Columbine Chorale will join in singing with the Highlands Chancel Choir to provide special music. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. After worship (starting around 11:15 a.m.), the Missions Committee will sponsor a brunch, with donations collected to provide Christmas stockings for children in HeadStart. Donations of candy for the stockings also gladly accepted!

Hope to see you sometime this week!

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and welcome to Advent!

As often happens, Thanksgiving this year runs right up against the first Sunday of Advent. Everything feels rushed, at least to me, and it's hard to shift gears so quickly from harvest/family/giving thanks/fall/home & hearth moments to what, in the Christian liturgical calendar, is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ. It is hard enough to resist the commercialized, sentimental, headlong rush to Christmas without tripping over the turkey feast at the beginning.

But enough sermonizing. May you have much to be thankful for, and may the blessings of family and friends outweigh the struggles of life, at least for a little while.

This year, we will follow the traditional themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each Sunday we will light another candle on the Advent wreath, and also learn about the decorations on our Chrismon tree.

For those interested in taking some time for personal reflection and group discussion, I will be leading an Advent study group using the book Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas, by Jan Richardson. This is a beautiful devotional resource utilizing poetry, personal anecdotes, and art to explore the movement of the season. We'll meet Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, from Nov. 29 through Dec. 20, at the church. Each session will include time for discussion of the book, reflection and prayer, as well as creative expression. I highly recommend the book to all (whether you come to the group study time or not!), but know also that all are welcome to the group gatherings, even if you haven't read the book. If you'd like to know more, please contact the church to get in touch with me.

Coming this week and next:

Wednesday, November 23: No choir rehearsal! (You can come and sing anyway if you want, but most of us won't be there.)

Sunday, November 27: First Sunday of Advent. Dixie Darr and Maralyn Devlin will bring us a message on the theme of "Hope." Worship begins at 10:00 a.m., with Christian Education for all ages at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, November 29: Advent study group meets (7:00 p.m.). We will begin to explore Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas, by Jan Richardson (details above).

Other events, November 18-20

In addition to our Service of Repentance and Reconciliation Proclaiming God's Welcome (see below), this Sunday at 10 am, Highlands UMC invites you to...

Friday:
United Methodist Women's Holiday Party, 6:00 p.m. at the home of Kristi Conroy (details at our website)

Saturday:
Concert by Richard Eichenberger and Patti Smith, 3:00 p.m. at the church, with donations to benefit Highlands UMC

Sunday:
Adult Sunday School class, 9:00 a.m.: Discussion of the movie Crash, led by Kristi Conroy

Questions? Visit our website to learn more about our church, or call the office at 303-477-5857.
Highlands UMC is located at 3131 Osceola St., Denver. All are welcome.

Coming soon... Advent!

Welcome! (All Are Welcome!)

Welcome to the brand-new blog for Highlands United Methodist Church in Denver. We have a regular website with pictures and more long-term information, but I thought this would be a convenient way to post upcoming events, sermon quotes/commentary, and news of interest to the community.

Currently it's just me posting, so I will disclaim that I do not speak for the congregation as a whole, or any other staff members; the opinions included in this blog are mine alone.

Just to get things started, I'll go ahead and put up information on this Sunday's service, as it will have a particular focus. In response to the recent ruling by the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church that a pastor can refuse membership if someone is gay and in a relationship, this Sunday, November 20, Highlands will offer a Service of Repentance and Reconciliation Proclaiming God's Welcome.

We will confess our part in the brokenness of the church, and affirm that the God of Jesus Christ is a God of the Open Door. The purpose of the service is to repent of the exclusion sometimes practiced in the church, and to proclaim that all people are welcome in God's family, regardless of age, race, ability level, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic condition, or other sometimes-divisive factors. If you'd like to get a jump-start on reflecting on this theme, check out Luke 14:15-24. God is throwing a party, and the doors are wide open!

Highlands UMC is located at 3131 Osceola St, Denver, and worship begins at 10:00 a.m.

Please visit our website for additional information on our congregation and how to reach us.