CRC Marks Advent in Different Ways

Not everyone considers the CRC as a trendsetter. But when it comes to Advent this might be the case.

In fact, some congregations in the Christian Reformed Church may be more than 25 years ahead of the Advent trends described this week in an edition of the national newspaper USA Today.

In its story, USA Today wrote: “Evangelical Christians are adopting—and adapting—the rituals of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas that are traditionally celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox and other liturgical churches. They’re giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement and set a spiritual tone day by day.” Advent began on Sunday.

But some churches in the CRC have been taking new approaches to marking Advent since about 1980, says Joyce Borger, editor of the quarterly journal Reformed Worship, a publication put out by Faith Alive Christian Resources, the publishing agency of the CRC.

“CRC churches are increasingly connecting with the concept of a ‘Christian Year,’” said Borger after reading the USA Today article.  “Advent and Lent seem to be the ones most churches in the CRC observe but you are increasingly finding churches that will also observe Epiphany…with a few experimenting with Easter Vigils and All Saints.”

Interestingly, says Borger, “there seems to be a simultaneous diminishing of observances like Ascension Day, Christmas Day has been replaced by Christmas Eve services maybe even the Sunday evening before Christmas, and fewer churches are celebrating New Years Eve and Day which used to be marked by two separate services.”

Overall, says Borger, CRC congregations have found creative ways to bring attention to the church calendar—and for good reason.

“The Christian Year and observing things like Advent and Lent…provide a thoughtful disciplined way to journey through the year that makes sure the gospel message is heard in its entirety and also allows for a balanced spiritual diet—not all praise, not all lament,” says Borger. 

Rev. Richard Williams, senior pastor for some 27 years at Pullman CRC in Chicago, agrees with Borger—if there is a trend, the CRC is way out front. “We’ve been celebrating Advent for as long as I’ve been here and it was happening before I came,” says Williams. “It has become more festive and creative over the years.”

His church makes use of Advent candles, colorful, hand-crafted banners, and special litanies to mark the weeks before the birth of Christ. “I don’t make a big thing out of it in my sermons, but I do talk about it being a time to look back as well as to look forward.”

Although there is a solemn, even penitential aspect to Advent, the focus at Pullman is celebration—and particularly this year, in tough economic times. “In these times, we all need some festive occasions,” says Williams. “Nasty stuff is always happening in the world. We try to have one month with the focus on the Good News to help the people.”

Along with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, the journal Reformed Worship has played a role in helping to expand how churches celebrate Advent. In theSeptember issue of the magazine, for instance, there is an article titled “Living in Advent: Worship Idea for the Gospel of Mark.”

Compiled by Scott Hoezee, Elizabeth Steele Halstead, and Carrie Steenwyk, the article offers suggestions on Scripture passages from Mark, as well as from the Psalms and Isaiah, to read and reflect upon during Advent. There are suggestions for songs to sing during Advent, meditations and commentary, and explanation of the Bible passages that can be read.

“Human nature is such that we prefer the sweet to the sour, the easy to the hard, the light rather than the darkness,” the authors write in their introduction. “But for the light to seem bright, we first need to spend time in darkness. Similarly, we need Advent to comprehend the gift of Christmas.”

This year, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is offering people a chance to use the season for a special purpose.

“During the season of Advent, as we wait in hope for the coming of Christ, I want to invite people to join in prayer and meditation as we also wait for the end of a disease that has ravaged millions: HIV/AIDS,” says Kate Kooyman, Congregational Justice Mobilizer for CRWRC and the Office of Social Justice.

Those interested are encouraged to contact Kooyman to receive a free daily e-devotional for Advent. “Each day you will receive an email with a meditation, suggested prayer, and a note from either me or Wendy Hammond [CRWRC Church Relations Coordinator] which will provide some details about justice and care for the communities impacted by HIV/AIDS,” she says.

To read the entire story about Advent in USA Today, visit www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-11-24-advent-evangelicals-christmas_N.htm.

To contact Kooyman, email her at [email protected] or call at 616-241-1691. More information is also available at: www.crcjustice.org.

For Advent resources from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, visit: http://www.calvin.edu/worship/leader/advent.php?source=slide