The Season of Advent
What are you waiting for? This issue of Call to Worship will shed new light on the season of Advent, exploring its historical origins, theological significance, and contemporary relevance—including a recent proposal to expand the season of Advent. Practical and creative suggestions for worship planners will help congregations engage this season more fully, as they watch with hope and expectation for the coming of Christ. May 2013.
Subscribers only: Download the entire issue.
Non-subscribers may view the featured article below.
In this issue
Articles
Lest We Miss Thy Kingdom's Goal: Reclaiming Advent, William H. Petersen
Preaching the Parousia in an Extended Advent, Suzanne Wenonah Duchesne
Spirituality and Advent: Just Another Evergreen? Betty Lynn Schwab
The World Is about to Turn: Retelling the Story of Jesus Eschatologically, Edwin Chr. van Driel
Advent Hope: An Excerpt from the Being Reformed Study on Advent, Donald K. McKim
The Work of Our Hands: Transforming the Commonplace into a Spiritual Symbol during Advent, Jana Blazek
Columns
"What Do You Do with Advent?" John W. Wurster
Music for Advent Amanda Powell
No-Fuss, No-Stress Christmas Pageant, Theresa Eungyong Cho
Glory to God: A Hymnal Change Is Gonna Come, Eric Wall
Ideas
An O Antiphon Eucharistic Prayer [liturgy], Gail Ramshaw
Lighting the Advent Candles: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love [liturgy], Teresa Lockhart Stricklen
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year [sermon], Diane Walton Hendricks
Here's a Promise We Can Count On! [hymn], Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Reviews
Sacrament of Salvation, Paul McPartlan, Reviewed by Hwarang Moon
The Sounds of Our Offerings, Charlotte Kroeker, Reviewed by Mary Margaret Flannagan
When Heaven Stands Open, Timothy Matthew Slemmons, Reviewed by Dan Mayes
Liturgical Art
Martha Kelly
Featured article
Read "The World Is about to Turn: Retelling the Story of Jesus Eschatologically," by Edwin Chr. van Driel.
Liturgical art
Download illustrations (jpeg format) of the "O Antiphons" by Martha Kelly (marthakellyart.com). Permission is granted for one-time use in congregational worship aids.
- O Sapientia (Wisdom)
- O Adonai (Lord)
- O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
- O Clavis David (Key of David)
- O Oriens (Sunrise)
- O Rex Gentium (King of nations)
- O Emmanuel (God with us)
Learn more
Visit the website for the Advent Project.
Learn about Glory to God, the 2013 Presbyterian Hymnal.
Visit Carolyn Winfrey Gillette's website, carolynshymns.com.
Further reading
Brian Wren, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship (Westminster John Knox Press, 2008)
