What are the symbols of the season? In our upcoming cantata Images of Adoration, Pepper Choplin lists these:
Candles
The Christ Child
The Manger
Greenery
Poinsettias
The Star
Gifts
Christmas music
The modern celebration of Christmas is a wonderful mashup of so many traditions: ancient Christian worship, medieval history, medieval Germany for the Christmas tree, medieval Italy for the Nativity scene, music from the early modern period, caroling, American flowers such as the poinsettia, and modern shopping practices.
For me, my symbols of the season are:
The Moravian lovefeast and star (since I grew up near Winston-Salem)
The Christmas tree
A Christmas Eve candlelight service
Christmas wrapping paper
My mother’s homemade fudge
What are yours?
Texts for this Sunday
Psalm 25:1-5
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Luke 2:25-38
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Both of these passages focus on waiting, and a particular kind of waiting where we wait in anticipation of something hopeful and good. The Psalmist waits for God despite fear and shame; Simeon waited hopefully for the Messiah, and Anna worshipped and prayed. These are all kinds of waiting that are not anxious but calm and resilient.
Interesting Links
See someone create art from carved leaves: https://kottke.org/23/11/creating-a-gentle-world-on-a-little-leaf
TikTok (which I’m still not on, BTW), is weird because people have very different viewing experiences on it depending on the algorithm. The top viral hits include makeup DIY, a large kitten, and parking garage singing: https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/6/23989124/tiktoks-biggest-hits-2023-viral-videos-trends-recommendation-algorithm
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