The fourth Sunday of Advent is upon us again, bringing us to the morning when we help re-tell the story of the first Christmas. Our Children’s Choir families have put together a pageant movie to help us we’ll hear the call of the angels, follow the star to Bethlehem, pay homage to the infant Christ, and return home by another way.
Throughout the worship service, we’ll also be creating a giant, church-wide nativity scene, so we’re inviting each person to bring something to lend to the scene: a stuffed animal, a Lego person, a figure from a household nativity set, a clothes-pin doll, a sheep ornament, you-name-it! We’ll need items to represent shepherds, animals, angels, magi, more animals, babies Jesus (like attorneys general), Marys and Josephs and more – nothing is too big, too small, or too obscure to fit into the stable on this special occasion!
In our Sanctified Art curriculum, the fourth Sunday of Advent invites us to ponder the theme, “when you’re afraid, give me your hand”.
The authors write, “We might imagine Joseph speaking these words to Mary and Mary offering them back in return. We could imagine God whispering this to us, and us speaking it aloud to someone who needs solidarity and support. “Give me your hand” is at once a plea for help and a gesture of support; living in mutuality means that sometimes we are the one in need and sometimes we are the giver of aid. Our goal for this week is to not let fear divide and isolate us, but instead let it be a catalyst for connection. Many sitting in your pews may identify as the one in need of an outstretched hand; yet we want to also take this charge a step further to emphasize our responsibility toward our neighbors. Action, risk, and solidarity are critical elements of Christian love. In what ways can you use the power and privilege you possess to stand in solidarity with others? When it can be tempting to turn away and isolate ourselves, let us instead embody Joseph’s humility, tenacity, and courage and extend an outstretched hand.”
As we re-tell the Christmas story in worship, I invite you to take note of all the places in the story where you see connection, solidarity, and community, despite the atmosphere of fear surrounding our main characters. Where can you bring those values into your own life?
