SAINT LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

401 Scammel Street Marietta, OH 45750 740-373-1716  An ELCA Congregation

  "Embraced by God's love, we connect, worship and serve."

From

the Pastor:

Newsletter article for December 2009

   The season of Advent is by far one of my favorite seasons of the church year. It’s a season filled with expectation and joy, of contrasting images between light and darkness. Advent is filled with rituals and traditions, many of which are performed not only at church, but also at home with the family . . . drinking of eggnog, listening to special music, decorating cut-out cookies together, and the list goes on and on. Some of these same traditions that I grew up with I now have the chance to do with my own children, adding to the specialness of the season as we prepare and await the birth of our Savior.

In worship this year, we will once again continue with the tradition of lighting the Advent candles leading up to and including Christmas Eve. Five families of the church come up front during the singing of “Light One Candle,” tell us which candle it is that they light this week, and lead us in prayer. Week after week the anticipation builds. The lights grow brighter. First hope, then peace, then joy, and finally love. Then, on Christmas Eve, we finally light the candle in the center of it all, the Christ Candle. It’s become a wonderful tradition that helps us, as community, walk together in anticipation and joy.

The truth is there are many traditions from which to choose to participate in this time of year. The church has become quite good at producing devotional materials specific to go along with the season of Advent: daily readings, advent calendars with chocolate and special sayings, daily activities in which to participate in helping others. If you don’t use any of these materials already, I encourage you to check them out. I’ve used some in the past, and found them very meaningful, especially in that they forced me to slow down during the rush of this season and focus on why and for whom we wait. But I’ve also discovered that I always come back to the tradition of the Advent wreathe as my favorite.

Recently I came across a brochure that breaks somewhat with the traditional “names” for each of the candles and for each candle provides a series of readings. So, this year I thought I’d give them a try. And for those of you who use an Advent wreath as one of your traditions, I’d encourage you to try it along with me. Here it is:

The Prophecy Candle: Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 60:1-3, Isaiah 40:3-5

The Bethlehem Candle: Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 2:4, Luke 2:15

The Shepherds’ Candle: Isaiah 40:10-11, Luke 2:8-11, Luke 2:20

The Angels’ Candle: Luke 1:26-33, Matt 1:20-21, Luke 2:13-14

During this season of Advent, may the Lord shine light into whatever darkens your life, and may you experience the joy of knowing the great hope and love we find awaiting us in the manger!

It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

Psalm 18:28