The First Sunday of Advent, begins the Christian Calendar's New Year.

To mark this, we are doing several things to call our attention to
the spiritual themes of the season.

As our Worship Committee reminds us: "Advent is a time of waiting, of watching, of hoping for the coming of Christ. ... We are marking this season of reflection and preparation by re-orienting our worship space with two sections of seats facing each other and a central table, upon which the Advent candles will be lit. As we approach Christmas, this table will come to life with the foliage of the season." And through scripture, prayers, music, and quiet contemplation we will invite God's Word to speak to us all.

1. The Advent and Christmas Seasons both focus our attention on the core belief of Christianity -- that in Jesus of Nazareth, God's eternal Word took flesh and came to dwell among us as one of us. The Gospel of John says it eloquently:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory ...." (John 1:1, 14)

So for a while the Altar is brought closer into our midst, as God drew nearer to humanity
in the child in the manger. And the lectern draws nearer, as we gather around the Word.

 2. The First Sunday of Advent also comes right on the heels of Christ the King Sunday. The symbolism is intentional -- the King of Glory, whose arrival we await with expectation in Advent, will come in an entirely unanticipated way at Christmas, not as royalty, but as a fragile child born to a working class family. St. Paul later described this dramatic reversal:

"Christ Jesus, ... though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, ... being born in human likeness." (Phil. 2:6-7)

So we are seated facing one another, with everyone on the same level. 

This is so we don't focus on seeing things as we do on hearing them -- we focus no on the leaders of our worship experience in the Seasons of Advent and Christmas, but rather on the miracle that God came in the midst of people just like those all around us, whose faces we see more directly. You might want to change the side where you sit, just to notice different things.

Symbolizing the Word being emptied into the world,
at the distribution the altar party and bread and wine come down
into the middle of the congregation.

We celebrate our common humanity by serving, and being served by, one another. Those not wishing to receive Bread or Wine simply remain seated -- still part of us -- as we all are blessed by Christ passing among us, "really present" in our midst.

We hope these changes will help us all look at ourselves, and one another, and the miracles of the season, in fresh ways. Advent turns our attention inward in anticipation, as our chairs have been turned inward. Then Christmas will turn our attention "across" to each other as Christ-bearers, as extensions of the incarnation, carrying the miracle of Christmas to others.

In the meantime, be "hospitality incarnate" to our guests, who may not realize that you're temporarily as disoriented as they are! Be gentle. Be generous. Let Christ into the middle of your unfamiliarity, as Jesus came into the world of creation, a vulnerable child with much to learn, but even more to give.

Rector, St. Thomas' Parish