Words for the Beginning: Advent Reminders
for New Seasons
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar
year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth
ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world
as we know it spins madly on. We remember the ancient world
– Mary, Joseph and Jesus’ world was filled with hunger, war,
intrigue, and political and social injustice– endings and
beginnings.
Our theme: When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown. We invite you to enter this Advent season as if you are entering a sacred new chapter, holding fast to the reminders that will bolster you for the journey ahead. As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.
In a world often drenched in pain, suffering, and injustice, it is a gift to remember that we are formed and made by a God who loves us and doesn’t leave us. The focus of the theme is words we might imagine God speaking to us, especially in these fraught times, words that we need to hear and also proclaim to the world. What are these words? You are a blessing. We can’t go alone. Do the good that is yours to do. Hope is worth the risk. Love knows your name. Don’t forget to laugh. The road isn’t straight.
Visuals: The central image of the series is a quilt, representing not only the comfort we might receive from God’s presence, but also the threads that connect us, and the necessity, strength and courage of community (that was also often present in quilting circles). Each of the Sundays of Advent, Christmas, Christmastide and Epiphany has its own quilt logo. Look for these visual aids in the sanctuary, on screen, in the eblast, and in other shared materials.
How might you engage?
Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22. Sunday Worship: Join us each Sunday, online or in
person, in worship. Our first Sunday in Advent will be led by the
Confluence group who are following this same theme.
Dec. 1 Attend the UCC Advent Festival. You will find opportunities to create Advent candle wreaths (please bring back your wooden bases if you have them) to use at home (candles, greens and some new bases provided), cardmaking activities for children, eco-friendly gift-bag creation and light refreshments. This year’s Advent Devotional booklets, and Advent calendars for all ages will also be available. After worship until 1:00 PM.
Pick up a copy of the Advent Devotional at church (we’ve ordered 50 printed copies), get access to a PDF e-book or print your own. This is a beautiful resource to take you through the Advent season into Epiphany, filled with original art, songs, poetry, scripture citations, reflection questions and spiritual practices that extend Sunday’s worship through the week. Let us know here if you’d like an e-reader or access to a print-your-own.
Try the Advent Photo Calendar! For all the photographers among us, Sanctified Art has offered a photo-a-day challenge. You can take up this challenge daily or as much as you like. If you’d like to share your discoveries, we invite you to share on your social media account or on the UCC Private FB page, with the hashtags #WordsForTheBeginning and #UCCMissoula. Access the Photo Advent Calendar here, or pick
up a copy at the Advent Festival.
Try the Advent Coloring Calendar! For artists of all ages, this is a word-find calendar, resulting in a facsimile of one of the logos for this season. Pick up a copy at the Advent Festival.
Advent Wednesdays December 4, 11 and 18:
5:30-6:15 Advent Soup Suppers
6:15 – 6:45 (approx.) Holden Evening Prayer
Bring your family, join your friends in a simple, delicious meal followed by
the lovely Holden Vespers service, a musical service with a few Advent
readings and brief silence. It’s a wonderful mid-week pause in this
sometimes busy season and family friendly. Yes, we do need soup makers and helpers. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CADAA2EA3FD0-
52241796-advent#/
Especially for Children: In Sunday School, the children will be using a curriculum that parallels our theme, and also practicing for an original Christmas Pageant “The Gift of Words: A Christmas Story”. The Christmas Pageant is December 22 during the 10 am service.
Tuesday, December 24 Christmas Eve Services
Join us as we celebrate Christ’s birth on December 24.
4:30 pm Candlelight service with Christmas hymns and message,
children’s time, brass, and handbell choir.
7:00 pm Candlelight service with Christmas hymns and message,
Chancel Choir, and strings.
9:00 pm Candlelight service with Christmas hymns, message, and
special music.