Six New Things – Week of December 16, 2024

Stories are at the heart of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany gatherings: prophetic stories and stories of hope; stories of the Christ Child’s birth – 2000 years ago, and today; stories of hospitality and welcome to strangers from afar and neighbors near to our hearts. Stories matter. Stories bring us together. Tell the stories.

ONE

If you intend to mention Jesus’ birthplace this Holiday Season, please read, Permission to Narrate (Church Anew), about which Dr. Walter Brueggemann writes, ‘Everyone has a story to tell… [b]ut not everyone has “permission to narrate” that story… [E]rudite Palestinian academic, Edward Said… noticed that contemporary Israel has permission to narrate its life, whereas Palestinians are denied that right to tell their life, experience, and version of historical reality… [Amidst] many other social inequities…the powerful tell the story. What follows is a reflection on such permission (or not) in our story-telling.’

Our Israel & Palestine: Learn, Pray, Advocate Toolkit – with resources for study, worship, prayer, and action – can turn this blog post into an intergenerational exploration and a renewed commitment to standing for peace in Jesus’ homeland.

Find more context-setting resources about Israel & Palestine in our lib guide.

TWO

The 45th Annual Augsburg University Advent Vespers: See Revealed Creation’s Splendor is a beautiful example of collaborative and artful storytelling on behalf of equity. The theme lifts up Augsburg and Central Lutheran’s partnership for climate-crisis-aware housing solutions that serve their most vulnerable neighbors. The full program – with music, readings, and litany – might inspire your own Advent, Christmas, and/or Epiphany services.

Surprised by Hope: A Rainbow-Infused Christmas Pageant (Emily Meyer) – which invites perspective on the long arc of justice and collaborative efforts to bend that arc toward Earth – could be shared as a Reader’s Theater with minimal rehearsal and function as a sermon on this last Sunday in Advent, on the First or Second Sundays after Christmas, or for an Epiphany Day observance.

Find additional last-minute Pageant suggestions in our lib guides.

THREE

Uncover some new versions of old stories in the Book of Belonging. Let everyone enjoy the book’s beautiful artwork with its Art Slides for Christmas Services.

Also for last-minute Christmas worship prep, two liturgies:

  • The Dreamer, is inspired by Anne Weems’s poem, ‘Getting to the Front of the Stable’, and invites us to hear Joseph’s story;
  • The Light Shines in the Darkness, is designed around four monologues related to symbols from Christmas narratives: a lamp, a wooden manger, a wooden staff or shepherd’s crook, and a wrapped Christmas present.

Both are appropriate for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and are downloadable.

Find more for Advent & Christmas Worship in our lib guide.

FOUR

This might feel out of place here, but as we settle into this Season so rich with traditions, something about the title and the content struck me: Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive (St Martin’s) might hold possibilities for intergenerational conversations about the traditions you are keeping alive – and consideration of how they instill wonder – or, maybe, how they no longer fill that need. Where do we find wonder today? How do our stories, rites, rituals, and traditions help us experience this essential element of faith and joy and gratitude?

Find more on Gratitude & Joy in our lib guide.

FIVE

Another fun intergenerational activity is ringing in the New Year with ‘Your Word’. Susannah Conway offers two free workbooks: The Unravel Your Year workbook, ‘is filled with questions, prompts, monthly reflection pages and more to help you take stock of [the year that’s past] and prepare for a new ride around the sun’, while the Find Your Word ebook ‘guides participants through Susannah’s 5-day process for finding the word (or words!) to carry them through the year ahead’. Both are available by sharing your email address here.

Find more for New Year’s in our lib guide.

SIX

It is gut-wrenching – and tragically too-familiar – to also have to share resources to support you as you support yourself and your young ones in the aftermath of yet another school shooting.

I thank Traci Smith for writing up a response and freely sharing two prayers from her Faithful Families at Home work. Traci writes, ‘Every time there is a traumatic news event, I try and send around some simple prayers and practices. It’s not much, but it’s my small contribution. Download them HERE and feel free to distribute to your congregations or any congregations you know. Download and keep on file for whenever you might need it. Love and light to dear ones in Madison. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.’

Indeed, How long, O God? Please, hear our prayers.

~~~

I’m taking the next two Mondays off, given their proximity to Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. I’ll return to bi-weekly posts on January 6, 2025.

Blessed Advent 4, Holy Christmas, and Brilliant Epiphany to you all!