Rediscover the Seven Sundays of Advent
Historically, the season of Advent was the seven Sundays leading up to Christmas, with the days in between. Currently, and in an unbroken tradition that is centuries old, those in Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate seven Sundays of Advent. The readings in the RCL do not have to be changed to observe this longer season of preparation for both the first coming in Bethlehem or Christ’s second coming at the end of time. In fact, the readings in these last three Sundays of the church year are designed for a longer Advent. One goal of this move is to reclaim the time for preaching and teaching about the second coming as was traditionally part of the season and remains so in truncated form now.
Last year, I led the congregation of King of Peace, Kingsland, in an experiment. Together with six other congregations in the US and Canada, we expanded Advent to its historic length. We used Rite II Prayer B Penitential Eucharist. The prayers of the people are changed weekly, adapted from those in Liturgy Training Publication’sIntercessions for the People. We used a seasonal blessing for Advent from the Book of Occasional Services. We also used liturgist Bill Petersen’s seven Advent collects written for this project (which I can send to interested persons).
In previous years, we has an Advent wreath on the way into worship and replaced that with a seven candle stand to show the same season is lengthened. We do not have a choir and music is by piano except on fourth Sundays when it is guitars, dulcimer and drum. I used O Come, O Come Emmanuel in the spot of a hymn of praising with verses 1 and 2 in week one, verses 1 and 3 in week two and so on.
Preaching reflected seasonal themes found in the texts each week. Music was a huge challenge, but we made it work. This needs improving over time. Some hymns from the Lutheran Book of Worship helped us expand available music on the fly.
Making Advent a Little Lent Once More
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For Episcopalians, Lent involves some changes to both corporate worship and one’s daily life, where Advent involves solely changes in corporate worship. This would need to change in order to transform a congregation’s experience of Advent.
In earlier years, King of Peace offered materials I created on Celebrating Advent in the Home (seewww.kingofpeace.org/advent/ ). My wife and I revised the booklet this year to take in a seven-week Advent. It is online here:Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord. Victoria and I also feel that an Adventen discipline is in order, hopefully different from Lent. This would take thought and preparation, but could be important. I think suggesting that families take on an Advent discipline specifically designed to counter the rampant concumerism of the season is the direction to go.
Why not make Advent even more counter-cultural at a time of year when the message of the culture (Buy More Stuff to Be Happy) most needs to be overturned? Notice the Sunday readings this year. Consider how a longer Advent might be a helpful antidote to the season, particularly if it starts before the post-Thanksgiving rush. Decide whether or not you want to make the move to a longer season of anticipation next year.
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
Canon for Congregational Ministries
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