“The best way
to predict the future
is to help create it.”
Christians multitask. As you know, Jesus’ followers need to be flexible because we’re often required to handle more than one thing at a time. For example, we function well with a variety of calendars. First, there is the Gregorian calendar year, with which we are most familiar; then there is the business-centered fiscal year, which can be either July-to-June or January-to-December; and finally there is the liturgical calendar, which is influenced by the vernal equinox and incorporates the six liturgical seasons which constitute a church year. Christianity’s liturgical year begins on the first day of Advent (which is coming up on Sunday, November 28), and then moves through Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. These six seasons serve as a beautiful way for people to learn, remember, and share the story of God’s love for all of creation. This is one of the ways the Holy Spirit works through the church to weave together theology, history, liturgy and worship, and the Holy Bible into a fabric that we can hold onto as we seek divine direction for the human condition.
Christians prepare. We plan our work and work our plan, as inspired and informed by the Messiahship, mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Here is the beginning of a vision for First Christian Church of Decatur as framed by the liturgical year, starting with Advent and moving through the conclusion of Pentecost in late 2011. This vision comes to us through our communal connection with the Holy Spirit and in prayerful, direct response to our church leadership’s desire for spiritual direction and guidance, which is what I, your pastor, have been called to offer and provide, with the help of God.
Christians live inside out. Good News! The faith we affirm has already been planted deep inside. Hopefully, by tapping into the Spirit that resides within and drawing it ever outward, we will evolve, change, and be transformed; the resulting new life in Christ shall generate good will and positive energies that, in turn, may increase the church in spirit, mission, and people. Fostering spiritual formation calls for our collective focus as a congregation for the next 12 months to be: faithfully and intentionally pray and meditate; study and embody the Holy Scriptures; and engage in the spiritual disciplines.
Christians organize. The community organizer in me acknowledges that communities are already organized; therefore the organizer’s responsibility is to work with and within existing structures and relationships in order to channel people’s energies, sense of will, and resources toward the fulfillment of a common cause. My friends, our common cause is to build the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. We begin and continue the journey by living faithfully, from the inside out.
Advent (Season of Anticipation and Preparation)
This Advent we eagerly await God’s blessed surprise, as foretold by the prophets and anticipated by a people in need of healing and hope. The church will be encouraged to name and cherish the ways and means that God’s love has been a blessed surprise. In what ways are you the surprise the world is waiting for? How can the church surprise the world? We prepare for the birth of God’s love in the world with special services of worship, creative gifts of kindness, acts of generous hospitality, and interacting with our neighbors and one another while selling Christmas trees, making wreaths, practicing hospitality, and encountering the holy in surprising places and faces.
Christmas (Season of Birth and Joy)
Christmas is set aside to celebrate that the Earth and the Transcendent have meet in the Child of God born in Bethlehem. Let the Lord be born (again!) in you and in our church and city. The church will be invited to contemplate and celebrate God’s decisive, loving action to save the world. Even though decorations and gift wrapping paper have been put away, now is the time to give thanks and quietly, gratefully, joyfully dedicate our lives to one fully human in whom God is fully present: Emmanuel, God with us.
Epiphany (Season of Celebration of Jesus’ Manifestation as the Messiah)
This is a season of recognition. People recognized that Jesus was the Messiah at his baptism, at a wedding in Cana, and in his preaching, teaching, and healing works. The church is instructed to pause and recognize the holy in our midst. During January we will participate in a month-long experience of rest, renewal and recovery. Our worship services will be uplifting and strengthening. Starting on January 15 (MLK Day) and ending on April 24 (Easter), we will share in 100 days of prayer. Everyone who chooses to join in this spiritual practice will be divided into triplets (groups of three); each triplet will be asked to commit to pray together 10 times in 100 days. We seek to discern and discover afresh God’s will for us personally and communally.
Lent (Season of Preparation and Repentance)
This is a season set aside to focus on the spiritual disciplines. We seek to overcome whatever comes between us and God and one another. The church will be united with a heightened devotion to community service and self-sacrifice. We will offer opportunities for a mission trip, local and regional outreach ministries, and cross-cultural, intergenerational experiences to help make faith tangible. May our Lenten confessions and contrite hearts lead us to be active in good deeds for the sake of the Gospel.
Easter (Season of Redemption and Salvation)
This is a season that celebrates the spring time of life, of rebirth, renewal and resurrection. We are in awe of the sacrifice of God’s Son so we might experience forgiveness and receive the gift of life everlasting. The church will be invited to look within and to look around, asking, “What needs to be let go in order for something new to be raised up? How can I (we) best be a part of God’s plan for the renewal of the human condition?” We may decide to offer another spring carnival, which is a fine way to have fun, interact with our neighbors, and fund a church mission.
Pentecost (Season of the Gift of the Spirit for the Building of the Church)
This is a season that begins with the church’s birthday celebration, lifting up the gift of the Holy Spirit. With this power from on high, Christians have the inner strength to nurture the growth of the church. Pentecost lasts for 26 weeks, giving us the time necessary to concentrate on building up the Body of Christ. The church will be invited to explore the variety of expressions of the Spirit, as well as learning how best to embody the ministry that Jesus had begun. We’ve prayed in triplets and small groups, in our homes and in worship. What have been some of the answers to our prayers? Is now the time to invest ourselves in fleshing out the Word? How do you live out the love that is given to you? Who is within your reach that needs to be loved? Surely this is the season to act on God’s commission: serve one another as Christ first served us.