Creating Some Extraordinary Time
During Ordinary Time
A few years ago, when Redeemer still had a building and a pastor to call our own, I commented at a worship meeting that Pentecost was way too long and Advent was way too short.
Advent, especially among Lutherans, is the sacred cow. Christmas and Easter customs will change with the times more easily than Advent. This is when we pull out all the do’s and don’ts of Christianity.
Knowing that—and being accustomed to being ignored by clergy, the guardians of all things liturgical—I expected absolutely nothing to result from my comment.
I was surprised when our pastor enthusiastically agreed.
Energized, the worship committee added a couple of weeks to Advent. Pentecost didn’t even notice.
This gave us more time to teach the important things that belong only to Advent and get lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas.
For the first time, we could actually learn some of the beautiful but eerily unique tunes that go with the pre-Christmas season and are never sung during any other season. They get short-changed in modern society when many Christians will only be attending worship once or twice during the four weeks of Advent. They tend to be known only by people who sing in choirs. Now the whole church could be the Advent Choir.
We were also able to add some of the cross-over Christmas hymns (heaven forbid) before Christmas, when all the world (except Christians) are singing our songs.
It gave us an opportunity to delve into the rich and poetic texts of the prophets as opposed to concentrating on the Gospel.
We got to visit with all the personalities of the Advent story, giving more attention to Elizabeth and Zacharias, Joseph, Isaiah, Hosea and all the prophets—some of whom are silent in certain lectionary years. John the Baptist and Mary might feel a little jealous, but they’ll get over it.
This custom, somewhat unique to Redeemer, led us to begin offering our Adult Object Lessons for Advent last week, nearly a month in advance. Two were offered last week. Look for two more this week.
There’s plenty to talk about. Now we have more time!
It doesn’t hurt to be prepared for the season of preparation!