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© 2015 General Board of Discipleship. Permission is given for use in United Methodist congregations, districts, annual conferences, and camp settings. © 2016 The General Board of Discipleship. Permission is given for use in United Methodist congregations, districts, annual conferences,

and camp settings. This resource may not be posted on any website not under the General Board of Discipleship.

Celebrating Extended Advent in 2016

The Rev. Suzanne Duchesne and The Rev. Dr. Deborah Appler Hosted by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards

Director of Worship Resources



Thanks to Generous Givers

This webinar is provided as a service of Discipleship Ministries and is funded through generous World Service apportionment giving by local United Methodist congregations.

© 2016 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist

Church. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for use by church leaders in ministry settings and in local churches so long as it is not sold for profit or placed on a website not owned or operated by The General Board of Discipleship.



A little bit about us…

3

Rev. Suzanne Duchesne

Rev. Dr. Deborah Appler Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards


and camp settings. This resource may not be posted on any website not under the General Board of Discipleship. © 2016 The General Board of Discipleship. Permission is given for use in United Methodist congregations, districts, annual conferences,




Let us pray.

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Why Advent?

To contemplate and

align our lives for the

culmination of all

things in Christ,

starting here and

now.

Why Advent?

To dedicate a

season of the year to

the work of

sanctifying grace,

and the works of

mercy and piety that

embody it.

Why Seven Weeks?

So Advent isn’t over-

run by Christmas

and we can keep

each season well.

Why Seven Weeks?

So we have time and

practice enough to

re-align our vision of

the coming

culmination and its

impacts on us here

and now.

Why Seven Weeks?

So we give ourselves

the time needed to

develop habits of

mercy and piety that

point to and

participate in the

eternal

transformation

already underway.

Why Seven Weeks?

So we can

participate anew in

the earlier Western

and ongoing Eastern

practice of a seven-

week Advent.

What is Expanded

Advent?

A restoration of the

Season of Advent to

its pre-11th century

status in the West

What is Expanded

Advent?

A movement

resourced by an

ecumenical working

group of pastors

and scholars known

as The Advent

Project.

http://theadventproject.org

How-to:

3 Ways to Introduce

Expanded Advent

to the Congregation

Full-out

Staged

“Clandestine”


How-to:

Practical Concerns

The Advent Wreath

Music

Lighting Services

and other Ritual

Preaching




Questions about the Why of Extended Advent?



IMPLEMENTATION 2016

• The Texts

• On the use of the Revised Common Lectionary & The Hebrew Bible Texts

• Three Options this year



IMPLEMENTATION 2016

• The Texts


Three Options this year:

1. All Saints: Oct 30th or Nov 6



IMPLEMENTATION 2016

• The Texts


Three Options this year:

1. All Saints: Oct 30th or Nov 6

2. Advent I Can be Skipped or observed on Nov. 6



IMPLEMENTATION 2016

• The Texts


Three Options this year: 1. All Saints: Oct 30th or Nov 6 2. Advent I Can be Skipped or observed on Nov. 6 3. Combine All Saints with Advent I: on Nov 6



IMPLEMENTATION 2016

Three Options this year: 1. All Saints: Oct 30th or Nov 6 2. Advent I can be skipped, observed on Nov. 6, or started

on November 13 3. Combine All Saints with Advent I: on Nov 6

Advent II Nov. 13 Advent III – Christ the King Nov. 20

Advent IV Nov. 27 Advent V Dec. 4

Advent VI Dec. 11 Advent VII Dec. 18



Over-Arching Theme of Texts:

“God Has Work for Us to Do”



Sub-Themes of Texts:

• God with Us

• Our Collaboration with God

• Peace Alongside Justice & Righteousness



Expanded Advent Lens/Context 2016

• Justice, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, Race in America, Political Campaigns



Advent 1 November 6, 2016 Haggai 1:15b-2:9 2:1 In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying:

2:2 Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say,

2:3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?

2:4 Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts,

2:5 according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.

2:6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;

2:7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts.

2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.

2:9 The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts.



Advent 1 November 6, 2016 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 2:1 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters,

2:2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.

2:4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.

2:5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

2:13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

2:14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,

2:17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.



Advent 1 November 6, 2016

Hermeneutical & Homiletical Strategies



Focus Theme: “God Has Work for Us to Do”

Hermeneutical Considerations

• Haggai evidences a clash of cultures, God wants them to come together and work. Remember I am with you –do not fear – I will shake the heavens and the earth - and build a new thing.

• By holding fast the Thessalonians honor God and in turn God provides the grace they need to continue in the work.

• Both texts: This is a collaborative effort.



Advent 2 November 13, 2016 Luke 21:5-19

21:5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"

And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.“ When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.“ But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish.

By your endurance you will gain your souls.



Homiletical Considerations

• Didactic

• Collaborative Preaching

• Preaching As Dialogue





Isaiah 65:17-25 65:17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.

65:18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.

65:19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.

65:20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

65:21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

65:22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

65:23 They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD-- and their descendants as well.

65:24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.

65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent--its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.





• Isaiah’s focus on kin-dom building

• Shalom - we have a role to play

• No place for calamity

• Use care with Luke to guard against Anti-Jewish interpretation.

• Focus is on something new coming





• Liturgical: Lectionary texts do not always - and oftentimes do not tie together so you will want to choose ONE.

• Context: Consider your own social location and those in your congregation/community. What words, phrases or images are perhaps seen or heard differently by different people?



Advent 3 November 20, 2016 Christ the King Sunday

Jeremiah 23:1-6

23:1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.

23:2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.

23:3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

23:4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.

23:5 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

23:6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."





• While there are shepherds who lead sheep astray, God will raise up new shepherds that care for all

• The righteous king promotes justice and righteous in collaboration

• Jesus the collaborative king





• Liturgical Calendar: Christ the King Sunday within an Expanded Advent?

• Consider enacting what you are preaching through liturgy and preaching.




Isaiah 2:1-5

2:1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2:2 In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.

2:3 Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

2:4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!




Matthew 24:36-44

24:36 "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.





• God is the arbitrator in conflicts

• Called to turn swords into plowshares

• Is this a present or future vision

• We are called to remain awake





• Performance in Preaching

• Context: What does it mean to be “watchful”, “ready”, “Awake”?



Advent 5 December 4, 2016 Isaiah 11:1-10

11:1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.



Advent 5 December 4, 2016 Romans 15:4-13

15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

15:5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,

15:6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15:7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

15:9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name";

15:10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";

15:11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him";

15:12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope."

15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.





• Building peace filled community

• The living stump of Jesse





• Liturgical: In this case you might consider how these texts may compliment each other?

• Imagery: Art and the Invitation to Vulnerability



Advent 6 December 11, 2016 Isaiah 35:1-10

35:1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.“ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.



Advent 6 December 11, 2016 Luke 1:46b-55

1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

James 5:7-10

5:7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.





• The refreshing power of water

• Safe journeys and justice

• Mary’s words of judgment or hope (perspective)

• Be kind in community, and patient





• Consider your own identities and social locations and those of your gathered community.

• Where is the grace and hope for those in positions of privilege? For those in positions of struggle?



Advent 7 December 18, 2016

Isaiah 7:10-16

7:10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.

But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.

Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.



Advent 7 December 18, 2016 Matthew 1:18-25

1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.





• The power and signs in names





• What’s in a Name?

• Naming Rituals or Discussion



Resources

The Advent Project website

Mark Miller (Tune) and Carl Daw (Text): “God Has Work for Us to Do”

Heather Murray Elkins, Holy Stuff of Life

Suzanne Duchesne: “Celebrating Extended Advent at Epworth UMC,

Bethlehem, PA”

http://theadventproject.org/

http://theadventproject.org/

http://www.choristersguild.org/store/cga1288-god-has-work-for-us-to-do/350/

http://www.thepilgrimpress.com/products/holy-stuff-of-life-stories-poems-and-prayers-about-human-things-murray-elkins

http://www.thepilgrimpress.com/products/holy-stuff-of-life-stories-poems-and-prayers-about-human-things-murray-elkins

http://umcworship.blogspot.com/2011/09/celebrating-extended-advent-at-epworth.html





Questions? Comments?



GO IN PEACE

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