Churches large and small are good and ready for Advent this year.

They began, like the Gospel story itself, with a nativity scene. John Mack Walker carved wood along the way the Gospel story went, through scenes and stories in the life of Christ, until finally there were sixty carvings.

I hold an advantage — like the young, I still knew

that in matters of love everything’s possible

and good assured.

It has begun, Lord, that sporting event in which we all

      are participants: the hundred-yard dash to Christmas.

LOUISVILLE — As the Christmas season approaches, Peter Mann hopes his fellow Presbyterians will think about the land of Jesus’ birth when they consider gift ideas.  Mann is president of Import Peace [www.importpeace.org], a non-profit organization that sells high quality, organic olive oil produced in Palestine. “A lot of church members buy it to give away as gifts,” says the Presbyterian elder from Lake Shore, Minn. “It is an alternative gift that is fair-trade certified.”

Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship, by Brian Wren. WJKP, 2008. Pb., 230 pp. $29.95.
Wren offers a great gift for worship planners and leaders in this collection of litanies and prayers, sung refrains, and orders for special services. Elements of worship are tied to the texts of the Revised Common Lectionary. Includes a CD-ROM of the book’s contents.  
 

They began, like the Gospel story itself, with a nativity scene. John Mack Walker carved wood along the way the Gospel story went, through scenes and stories in the life of Christ, until finally there were sixty carvings

     Twenty-four of his beautiful woodcarvings are now the centerpiece of displays at the Presbyterian Heritage Center at Montreat, N.C.

My son’s menacing mercy split followers—

cleaving them as a plow tears earth to hold seed—

foes too—as a hammer bursts rock to shard.

With his kind cunning he sliced shackles of

a friend’s grave-swaddling, then cut a broad swath

in holy courts, paring harsh pretenders.

I hold an advantage — like the young, I still knew

that in matters of love everything’s possible

and good assured.

Now    attentive to Isaiah 61:1-4 & 8-11
To give … a garland.  … they shall repair the ruined cities

At watch, when  …

‘a day’ can mean a thousand years

often leads to nine-hundred-and-some years

of false starts, promising beginnings

that prove only a beginning, no more.

In many waits —

I haven’t known what I wait for

or even that I’m waiting.

Standing at the bus stop, she’d say,

Looking for ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas in your home or congregation while avoiding the material excesses of the season?

            The Enough for Everyone program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in October introduced a new component focused on lifestyle integrity for families, couples and individuals: Just Living. Currently featured on the Just Living Web page are Advent and Christmas suggestions. “During Advent we anticipate and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In our modern-day culture Christmas has also become a season of giving. This year we have compiled some resources to help Presbyterians engage in giving that sustains life and celebrates the birth of Christ in more meaningful ways than mainstream culture provides,” says the Web site.

The Psalmist says, wait for the Lord. I have a hard time waiting for my toast to pop up. Seriously. Watching it doesn’t help either. “Hurry up”, I said to the egg, frying in the pan; taking my mind off the bread in the toaster. “Can’t you cook a bit faster?” The Psalmist says, wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord. I would like to do that but waiting for the doctor is tough enough. The other day I mentioned to my wife that the tree in our front yard just wasn’t growing. She reminded me that trees take years, ten or more, to mature fully. Just wait and watch. It will grow. Trees take time. Still, I want a tree now.

One of the most important tasks of church officers and pastors is to visit the sick, take care of shut-ins, and meet with members who are in personal or public distress.

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It's a happy or unhappy curiosity that the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq falls in the middle of what Christians term Holy Week. What it does do is provide a distinctive frame for discourse about the war, given that the two most prominent allied leaders identified with the invasion, George W Bush and Tony Blair, saw themselves as being engaged on Christian business.

Cleopas asks Jesus, Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? (v.18). But Cleopas himself appears to be uninformed about the transformation that took place among the multitude at the Cross.

The popular mind thinks that there was a murderous mob around the Cross crying, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" But such was not the case. The city of Jerusalem was and is relatively small with limited public space. Pilate's judgment hall could not have held more than a few dozen people. The High Priest and his supporters were naturally present for the political trial of Jesus. There is no hint that the supporters of Jesus were allowed into the room. On that occasion the High Priest's men (in the hall) responded to Pilate with the cry, "Crucify him." But on the street it was a different matter.

To worship is to be open to mystery,

The unexpected,

The soul before unknown,

The darkness of the light, and

The lightness of the dark

To receive what can only be given,

   never taken, never controlled,

For good or ill.

It is clear that Jesus carefully planned the first part of the Triumphal Entry. He chose a village where he had friends. One of those friends was alerted to ready a colt and tie it in front of the house at a specified time. Its owner was waiting and watching. The disciples were told where to find the colt and both parties memorized passwords.

It is also clear that Jesus engaged in similar planning for the Last Supper. A man who could recognize the disciples was waiting with a water pot to lead them to a house where the owner had already offered his large, furnished upper room to Jesus. Those involved used passwords again. Meticulous planning clearly surfaces in both of these occasions during holy week. I would suggest a third: the Triumphal Entry itself.

Cleopas asks Jesus, Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? (v.18). But Cleopas himself appears to be uninformed about the transformation that took place among the multitude at the Cross.

The popular mind thinks that there was a murderous mob around the Cross crying, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" But such was not the case. The city of Jerusalem was and is relatively small with limited public space. Pilate's judgment hall could not have held more than a few dozen people. The High Priest and his supporters were naturally present for the political trial of Jesus. There is no hint that the supporters of Jesus were allowed into the room. On that occasion the High Priest's men (in the hall) responded to Pilate with the cry, "Crucify him." But on the street it was a different matter.