Advent: Preparing for Jesus' Birth

On the First Sunday Advent at Pine Island Church each worshiper was given a strip of fabric by our children.  As we sang John Bell's song, "Cloth For The Cradle," each worshiper placed a strip of cloth on a doll's bed.  In so doing we created a beautiful woven blanket to receive infant Jesus on Christmas.  A basket of fabric strips still has some strips in it.  We will again sing "Cloth For The Cradle" as one of our gathering songs each Sunday of Advent.  Worshipers who have not done so can still add to our cradle preparation.  Come join us.

This image of fabric strips of different colors and textures woven together captures for me a beauty of the Church of Jesus Christ worldwide.  Each person in his or her own unique color, gender, orientation, personality, skill set joins with others to make a beautiful diverse community of faith.  This is particularly true of the Pine Island Church.  We are and may be the only multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-generational congregation in the Kalamazoo area.  And we are blessed for it.  During this season of Advent, we together create a place for Jesus. 

In my excitement of the moment on Sunday, I forgot to pray this prayer.
"Here is a place for you, Lord Jesus.  Just as our hands have made it ready, so make our hearts ready to love and to welcome you.  Be born again, not in a manger, but in us.  Make us your Bethlehem, where God is personal and all things and all people are made new.  Amen."   (From "Cloth for the Cradle" copyright 1997 Wild Goose Worship Group, Iona Community.  GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive North American Distributor, p. 77). 

 A Personal Note: my stepfather, Harry Rhodewalt, made this doll bed for my daughter, Marta, thirty some years ago.  He is now with the company of saints.  Carpentry was his much loved hobby.  This doll bed is a childhood treasure that Marta has lent us for this season.  I doubt he ever imagined that it would become a centerpiece for a congregation's interpretive arts for Advent.  Thank you, Poppy!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Lenten Invitation

Image
We enter today the season of Lent, forty days (not counting Sundays) of deep reflection, repentance and transformation led by the Spirit.  Typically, we tend to focus on our individual personal sins and shortcomings, but in scripture the prophets of Israel called on Israel as a society, a people and nation to repent and change their ways.  Read through any of the following books of the Bible:  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah.  You hear them addressing the community, not individuals.  Societal ills are harder to get one's arms around, none-the-less, addressing them is part of our collective spiritual calling, responsibility and journey together.  However, how one begins to change society, is by beginning with oneself.  Family system's theory suggests that if one member of a system changes its behavior, the whole system changes. There are many sins and shortcomings one can confess and address, but the need for racial healing seems paramount!...
Read more

Remembering the Apollo 11 Mission: Landing on the Moon

Fifty years ago this Saturday, on June 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon, one of the greatest triumphs in human history.   Michael Collins, the often forgotten third member of the Apollo 11 crew, remained in the Command Module, continued in orbit around the moon, watched and listened hoping that all would be ok, knowing there was a strong chance of a disastrous descent, and that if so, he would be the loneliest man in the universe and have to return by himself, likely forever remembered as the one who left two crew members behind.  Engineers gathered in NASA's Houston Control room also watched and listened with bated breath, along with Walter Cronkite and other news anchors, and people around the globe, who huddled around televisions and radios pulling for success.  It was a day the world became one human family pulling for "our" success. The 50th anniversary of this human achievement has inspired the Chasing the Moon  series on PBS, ...
Read more

Spring Fever, Mud Season, and Living in Harmony with the Seasons

Image
It is a bit early for spring fever.  I drove through a snowstorm getting Eileen to the hospital the night our second child was born on April 9th.  Ever since, my family anticipates an early April snow.  Nonetheless, spring fever has hit me! After spending the winter months staring out windows at gloomy gray sky, leafless trees and a snowy windswept landscape, when the sun shines in clear blue skies like today, and the crocus emerge in the flower beds, my spirit lifts and my heart beats a bit faster.  I relish getting outside and seeing the earth reawaken from its winter slumber. How about you?  My muscles are still a little sore from raking my lawn last week.  My flower beds are still waiting to be cleared of leaves which have found a resting place there  for the winter.  I plan to spade my vegetable garden soon and get it ready to plant some early snap peas, greens and radishes.  The ground is still too cold, but it's time to get ready....
Read more