Advent Unwrapped: Make Room for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!

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The small c (for commercial) Christmas officially starts the first time I unintentionally hear Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas”. Usually it annoys me, especially if it comes before Remembrance Day, but this week, when I heard the song (on November 12th) while searching for affordable eggs, I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t even annoyed, because I feel like a world so skilled at making room for skepticism, war, despair and hate needs a little Christmas. I know that I need a little more Jesus. I need to intentionally make room for the hope, peace, joy and love that Christ brings, before I get confused, ‘lose the plot’, and forget my unique place in God’s great story. After all, in God’s story, we all have a part! All of us, working together, to make space for grace, feels truly, big C, counter cultural, Christmas. For Everyone Ready to break free from the consumer frenzy? Let's explore a simpler, more thoughtful way to celebrate the holidays.   Advent Unwrapped Guides – buy less gift ideas. For Worship Planners and Leaders   We had this Facebook discussion with members of the disability and accessibility network just for you to listen to at your convenience. Worship service resources for Blue Christmas, Christmas Eve, and the first two weeks of Advent (Hope and Peace) are now available in the worship section of the Advent Unwrapped webpage. 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism Webinar on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. EST: The Texts of Advent: Finding Good News and Avoiding Antisemitism. [Image credit: © Karen Sudom, 2024. Permission has been granted for non-commercial use in United Church of Canada worship services during Advent 2024. To use these resources after December 2024, please contact the artist at ksudom@gmail.com] For Musicians   Check out our new scripture and service music for the season and our Advent and Christmas Songs:  -O Come, Emmanuel -The Giver  -The Giver (American Sign Language) -Memory  -Silent Night  -O Come All Ye Faithful  -Away in a Manger    And this Blog on Christmas music from years past by Tammy-Jo Mortensen. Plan to attend the “What we will sing when we sing a new song” webinar on Tuesday, November 26 at 7:00 p.m. EST. For Churches Struggling to do Music   Invest in Your Musical Future: The Oxford Fund offers grants of up to $750 to cover two-thirds of the cost of music education, including organ, guitar, and piano lessons. Connect with Your Community: Reach out to your local Music United Convenor or join the Music United Facebook Group to connect with people and resources in your area. Be Bold: Be it warbly and off pitch, sing! Start with simple, beloved songs, and remember that we sing faithfully to a God who loves us unconditionally. Be Intentional: Sing your prayers, provide context and build meaning in the music that you select, intentionally pray with others in the singing of the songs, possibly by dedicating them. For the background to some beloved Christmas hymns read Bruce Harding’s Intercultural Hymn Festival for Advent. Be Creative: If you are looking for some piano music to play as possible preludes or postludes or to help folks learn hymns, there are wonderful resources online. The United Methodist Church has many public domain hymns. As we prepare for Advent together, I am reminded of the words of Dorothee Söelle, from the poem “When he came” in her book Revolutionary Patience. In the poem she states that “he needs you, that’s all there is to it.” Indeed, Jesus needs us, this Christmas, and always, as an infant needs loving adults. Will you help bring about his revolution? Nothing says Advent like the end of the world. Until then, I am waiting with you, Alydia Twitter Facebook Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

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