|
Bringing Ritual, Tradition and Art to Advent by The Rev. Joyce Stickney A friend of mine shared with me yesterday about her high point in the month of September. She was sitting around in a circle of friends at a baby shower and of course everyone was asked for a piece of maternal advice. Her teen-age daughter happened to be there as well and when it was her turn, instead of "passing" (as she was expected to do) she told the women that she and her mother had a wonderful relationship. "It's all because of fantastic Fridays," she shared. "Just about every Friday Mom would pick me up and we would spend the afternoon together going to the IMAX theater, shopping in Chinatown, having tea in the Huntington Gardens… it was time just for the two of us." This ritual and tradition was the foundation for the development of a wonderful mother-daughter relationship which later weathered a number of storms. Children, and also adults, find comfort and meaning in family rituals, whether it's praying together before sleeping, or cooking a traditional Thanksgiving feast with relatives. Somehow life seems deeper, richer, and more sacred when we place our communal times in the midst of a larger framework. This November and December the clergy are offering a different sort of Adult Education class on Sundays during the 10 o'clock hour, Nov. 14 - Dec. 19. All are invited to participate in this six session series where we will learn and discuss the various Advent/Christmas traditions available to us in our faith. When we repeat something it is like making the statement, "This is important to me." When we participate in traditions we relive all the times we have shared that experience before and tie the years together. Making a Jesse Tree, baking cookies and delivering them to friends, celebrating St. Nicholas' Day, participating in a Posada, lighting Advent candles in the evening, sending cards, observing the 12th night and the Feast of the Epiphany… these are all ways to emphasize the expectations and experiences of a people awaiting the coming of the Messiah. In one another's good company we will delve into (and sample) the many ways of bringing these religious seasons into the center of our lives. Please do sign up on the patio if you plan to attend as there will be some materials and hand-outs.
Copyright © 2004 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
|
