Advent words

These words just came to me throughout today - in sets of three. I offer no theological analysis. Feel free to suggest your own - groups of three would be neat, but not essential.

Beyond the stained glass

Recently I’ve been posting photos from a stained glass window in a lovely wee church (St. Mary’s) in Wooler, Northumbria.

Several thoughts occur to me. Firstly, one of the original purposes of stained glass was to communicate key stories to congregations that were largely illiterate. The picture book approach made the stories meaningful and accessible. It strikes me that this is a key role for the church today – especially at times like Christmas when people are more likely to wander into a church.

Of course the danger is that we over-simplify the message, and in many ways this is the downside to the picture book approach. The images get lodged in our minds and the distortions that go along with that. For example, how many people firmly believe that there were three kings in the nativity story? Reality is – no number given, not kings! But the image persists.

The second thought is how do we, as Christians, remember the message of the stained glass window throughout the year? You know - Christ incarnate!

Sheilagh Kesting - the current Moderator of the Church of Scotland – speaking about the Christmas story said:

“It really does speak about justice and homelessness and the kind of world God wants us to live in, and the kind of people he wants us to be… We distort religion in so many ways, but it’s about a God of love, about a God who turns things upside down… That is what our faith is about and in lots of ways it’s disturbing because it unsettles people’s comforts.”

(The Herald magazine 22 Dec. 2007)

Have we moved beyond the stained glass windows?

A child is born

Friday photo - a great company of the heavenly host

Now it feels like Christmas

Two reasons for the mood change.

Firstly, I’m now on holiday.

Secondly, last night we were at Dolly Daydream’s school Christmas concert. It’s rapidly becoming a highlight of the year for us. It’s held in the wonderful setting of St. John’s Kirk in Perth, which reminds me that I really must take a proper look round it one day (I’ve only lived in Perth for 20 years or so!).

Anyway, last night was full of wonderful talent, devoid of cringeworthy moments and with mere shavings of cheese. Dolly was cello-ing with the string and full orchestras and singing with senior choir.

Other highlights included the swing band – so cool that they were hot; and a reading called “A modern Corinthian”. This was based on 1 Corinthians 13, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere on the weby-net thing. If anyone has a copy …

Putting parental pride aside, the thing that sticks in my mind was right at the end of the evening. Four boys/ young men sang two verses of Silent Night unaccompanied. It’s far from a favourite of mine, but on this occasion and with this performance it seemed to be the perfect ending. Very brave of them and very well done!

It’s Christmas!!!!!!!

Uncomfortable God

Following yesterday’s entry, I came across this prayer from the Iona Community.

The poor… the broken-hearted…
the prisoners… the mourners…
We can make it a reverent and irrelevant litany,
like counting cherry stones:
Tinker… tailor… soldier… sailor…
Rich man… poor man… beggar-man… thief…
what has this got to do with us God?
Sailors… children… merchants… pawnbrokers…
When will it come to us?
This year… next year… sometime… never…
Yet we remember that when Jesus read these words
he added ‘Today – here and now –
these words are coming true.’
Come true for us, uncomfortable God,
here and now!

A coming Christ in Advent #3

The highlight of this morning’s church service was the new song from Lins Honeyman.

"The splendour of Christ in a bed of straw

Almighty God in human form"

The contrasts contained in the song got me thinking a bit.

What does the Creator of everything want from us? What are we expected to create?

My mind flicked to the Magnificat and the picture expressed by Mary of the Kingdom of God. It’s essentially a kingdom of justice. Given that we are charged with carrying the good news through all the world, does this mean that we are called to bring the values of the kingdom into reality – to create a just world?

I think so – but I’m challenged about my role and where to start. Once again, I’m drawn to Morningside’s Just Christmas.

To create a just world – do something, do it now, do it with all of your creativity, and do it expectantly!

Friday photo- Magi from the East

Through the eyes of others

During advent I’ve stumbled a couple of things that have made me stop and wonder how Advent (and by extension Christianity) must look from different perspectives.

First of all was the paperless advent calendar, which I love and am finding very helpful as a way of thinking through Advent (double entendre intended!). I particularly liked day 4.

I also came across the art work of He Qi – a Chinese Christian artist. I find these images simple, striking and challenging.

My conclusion? We have become anaesthetised by our cultural assumptions – at this time, particularly in relation to Advent and the Christmas story. Our imagery tends to revolve around children’s nativity plays rather than thought through and engaging our imaginations.

Years ago I read and quoted regularly from a wonderful wee book that I was given – “The Gospel in Art by the Peasants of Solentiname”. Solentiname is a fishing village in Nicaragua, and the book is based on a series of Bible study discussions involving the villagers. They see the gospel story from a completely different perspective, probably more in keeping with Mary and Joseph than with me.

Maybe we need to look at things from a different cultural perspective to be able to make sense of how to engage with our own culture.

“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”
Bertrand Russell

A coming Christ in Advent #2 addendum

I came across an article by Charles Colson which seems to resonate with some of my ramblings of yesterday. A few quotations, but it’d probably be better to read the whole article!

“Sometimes I think Jesus' announcement of the liberation of the Jewish people and the coming of God's kingdom is as misunderstood today as it was by the Jews of his time. Christ was bringing in the reign of God on earth; first, through his own ministry, and then by establishing a peaceful occupying force - his church - which would carry on God's redeeming work until Christ's return in power and glory and the kingdom's final triumph.”

“Preoccupied with self and distracted by affluence, many Christians try to confine the gospel to a superior form of therapy; they fail to see it as a cosmic plan of redemption in which they, as fallen creatures, are directly involved.”

“Christianity won't rise or fall on whether Wal-Mart employees can say "Merry Christmas." But its future does depend, in part, on how God's people advance God's kingdom, as we help establish his peaceful rule in the present historical moment, until Christ reigns in all his glory.”

A coming Christ in Advent #2

"Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge."

Abraham Joshua Heschel

How do we apply this in Advent? Well, the wisest man that I know was preaching in our church tonight, and he said something along the following lines (my shorthand couldn't keep up, but it's true to the spirit of what was said):

If a secular society wants to turn Advent into a spending spree or festival of light in midwinter, that's their choice. And we join in. But we are called to affirm the wonder and mystery of Advent.

I was reflecting on these two thoughts and thinking that the church, and individual Christians, need to stop being negative about consumerism gone mad in Advent, and start being positive about the story of Christmas. By all means enjoy the season, but make sure that you spend time in reflection, wonder and prayer. Also, share the good news with others.

Then I came across a news story about John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. To avoid any doubt, I absolutely support his actions. His action - visual in its appeal and prophetic in its message - strikes me as an appropriate way for a Christian (whether leader or not) to express negative feeligns about something. In other words, when we choose to convey a message of opposition, make sure that the issue concerned is sufficiently important, and that the message is clear.

Wasn't a significant part of Christ's message about supporitng the poor and oppressed, rather than sooking up tae the high heid yins?

Through all the Advents of our life

Through all the Advents of our life, we shall wait and look forward with longing for that day of the Lord, when God says, "I am making everything new!"

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Yesterday I had an unexpected wonderful experience, which seemed to chime with the Bonhoeffer quotation.

At work I normally avoid what I call the ‘figurehead’ role – you know those events that you get invited to where you have to flash the smile, press the flesh and make small talk to strangers. Not exactly a comfortable environment for me.

Anyway, we are involved in a health and social care academy. I was involved in the original idea and planning, but true to form ducked out when real people got involved. The academy is really a short course to provide people who are out of the mainstream employment market with some basic skills that will help them apply for jobs in health and social care. Often the participants will be people who have had health problems (including mental health), women returning to the labour market after child care responsibilities but with no relevant skills.

Because someone else was on holiday, I was asked to represent the department at the graduation for the current group. Then I was asked if I would say a few words, and oh, would I present the certificates as well. I agreed, but I wasn’t looking forward to it. I don’t have any problem with the public speaking side (although ‘a few words’ turned out to be a 10 minute slot!); but small talk …

Before the ceremony I was chatting (mainly listening) to some of the college staff who commented on the increase in confidence in the participants over the six weeks of the course. After the ceremony – as I started to relax a bit- talking to the candidates it was clear that this was a really big deal for them. They were enthusiastic, but clearly with underlying concerns and apprehensions. They wanted to know about job opportunities, and could they volunteer, and who should they contact etc etc.

After the photo session, one of the women said “This has been a great day!” As she said this I realised that I had been looking at this event from the wrong perspective – to my shame. It was a bit of an inconvenience to me; for the course participants it was ‘making everything new’.

Well, as I drove home I realised that it was a new start for me to – time to press the flesh a bit more and appreciate that what can seem like a wee thing to me can be a major event for someone else. What was David Adam saying about Mirror Images?

This was a great day!

Friday photo - while shepherds watched ...

A coming Christ in Advent #1

The title of this post is also the title of a fascinating wee book by Raymond E Brown that I'm planning to re-read this Advent. Aspects of this might feature in future entries.

For today... mainly questions.

Amongst the many themes for Advent are realisation and hope; the hope of realisation; and the realisation of hope. What does this mean for Christianity in 2007?

Can we focus on Christ as well as Christmas?

Can we focus on needs in our world as well as on our own 'wants'?

Can we reflect the joy of the season, while reflecting on the magnitude of the message?

Can we bring light into the glitter of December?

Can we bring hope amongst the shopping lists?

Can we realise our blessed-ness and bring the hope of Christ into our world?