Getting Ready with Themes

The theme-package, maybe to be used, maybe not, begins with John 3:16 for Advent I. God initiates the whole thing, and loves the whole world. Not just our part of it, but ALL of it. Not just the part that uses OUR language for God, but God loves even those who don't make ANY effort to find him. And He specially loves those who really do. Even if they call him by the wrong name.

Advent is an adventure, it is finding that God's love is vastly superior to our customs that celebrate that love. And the biggest transition in history has been when people find God and make the big move: from the old "kill the unbeliever" to "persuade the unbeliever in love". You can touch any part of history or human nature from that vantage point.

Advent II, thematic, would be UMHymnal # 387, the full text of Charles Wesley's "Wrestling Jacob", probably ending with Albert Schweitzer's final paragraph from "Quest...": "he comes to us as one unknown..."

Advent III, along the same lines, would take another Wesley hymn-set, UMH # 594 and 595. Jesus is the Word, but finding the Word means much more than reading ink on paper; it also means prayerfully communing with the Holy Spirit who SPEAKS the living word to us. God insists on participating in the moment of hearing.

Advent IV takes Bethlehem as the location, your favorite hymn and text, and the simple blessing: "Bloom Where You Are Planted." Christmas is not a matter of getting the "wow" gift or taking the "wow" trip - - it is a matter of personal transformation which we come to when Emmanuel happens, when God is with us, when the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us.

Soon, I'll post other Advent patterns. I'll probably use one of them!

Blessings, B