Lutherans are Advent People

Rev. David Haberstock

by David Haberstock

Change is all around us. Change can be good. It can be bad. But whether good or bad, change can cause anxiety.

My life changed this year. I became a Regional Pastor and no longer serve a parish. My wife started university studies. We are trying to get used to a new rhythm of life without the events of the parish shaping the year as strongly. Our whole family is getting used to many rhythms we have not worked through before. I’ve experienced a higher degree of anxiety than I am used to.

Your congregation is experiencing changes. Generational transition, rural decline, urban sprawl, increasing secularization, immigration, economic ups and downs. This is causing a lot of anxiety in our congregations.

When God took on flesh, the universe changed. Our God did a new thing. Christ Jesus’ coming has changed the universe and brought in the end times of this creation (1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:26). Though Christians rejoice at this event, the world has been anxious about who Jesus is ever since (John 15:18-20).

In times of crisis and change, we all look to familiar things for comfort: food, beloved books, traditions, memories of a simpler time. Tradition is one reason why children love Christmas. It is a season of foods and baking, familiar stories, events, special music, and gift-giving. These human traditions help heighten our joy at the proclamation of Christ’s salvation of us. In an era of an excess of food and entertainment, tradition is one of the few things that makes food and music precious.

Just days ago, our calendar changed. A new church year began. Advent is the time of preparation for our yearly remembrance of Christ’s taking on our flesh to save mankind. In Advent we hear about the promise of Christ’s coming, the preparations of John the Baptizer before Christ’s coming, and through John how the Holy Spirit calls us to repentance and makes straight Jesus’ path into our lives. Quiet preparation has a way of calming anxiety in the moment. This season is a godly and churchly time of preparation for Christ’ incarnation, which is our ultimate peace.

Advent is a godly and churchly time of preparation for Christ’ incarnation, which is our ultimate peace.

In our world, Advent is not recognized and the holiday season, which starts earlier every year, is not about our Lord’s taking on flesh in the womb of the Virgin, but about an excess of shopping, parties, glitzy decorations, and schmaltzy songs, so that by the time the gifts are given on the dawn of Christ’s nativity, we are sick of Christmas. The secular holiday season has become a time of anxiety and declining bank accounts. The peace of Christ is traded for an anxiety-laden spending spree.

Lutherans are Advent people. We have the best—and possibly the most—Advent hymns. We are a people prepared for the changes and chances of life by Christ’s own Word and Sacrament, which is given to you week in and week out in the Divine Service. Advent is not a time to rush to Christmas, but a time to prepare for the twelve-day celebration of Christmas. We prepare not only by baking our traditional cookies and slowly decorating our houses and sanctuaries, but by hearing the Word, repenting of our sins, and worshipping our God in human flesh, who gives us His own body to feast on, granting peace to our hearts.

As you prepare for Christmas, I encourage you to not rush, which makes this most blessed celebration a time of anxiety. Savour the countdown that Advent traditions—such as the wreath—provide. Go to church. Relish this season of preparation. I encourage you to light the candles on your home advent wreath daily, and sing an Advent hymn from your hymnal in eager anticipation of Christ’s coming.

Savour the countdown that Advent traditions—such as the wreath—provide. Go to church. Relish this season of preparation.

Remember that once He came in blessing, all your sins redressing. Let the advent of our King, your prayers now employ. Invite the Saviour of the nations to come, so that the Virgin’s Son makes your home His home! For He comes not to cause anxiety, but to comfort, comfort His people and speak peace to you. And let the whole season culminate not just in parties and gifts, not merely in carols by candlelight, but by receiving the greatest gift of all in the feast of God’s own flesh on Christmas Day and throughout the new year!

A blessed Advent and Christmas be yours in Christ, our soon coming Lord.

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Rev. David Haberstock is Regional Pastor for Lutheran Church–Canada’s Central Region.

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