Rev. Oz Lorentzen poses next to the lit Advent wreath at St. Barnabas Church.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
For many mainline churches, the season of Advent starts at the beginning of next week, and St. Barnabas Church is no exception.
The season, says Rev. Oz Lorentzen, allows for many things that are mentally, socially and spiritually healthy leading up to Christmas.
“Preparation is important,” said Lorentzen. “If you’ve ever been involved in a wedding or some other event, even a high school graduation, there’s a lot of preparation that goes into that now, sometimes just because there’s stuff that needs to get done. But we don’t always reflect on the need to or the benefit in psychologically preparing ourselves.”
He compared the idea of waiting during the Advent season, as “advent” does refer to something coming, to that which is commonly practiced for christians in waiting for both the first and second coming of Christ.
It also reminds, said Lorentzen, that nobody is alone in their waiting.
“It reminds us that we aren’t alone in our waiting, that, in fact, God’s people have always been waiting for God and the promise of God,” said Lorentzen. “In that way, it allows us to connect with people throughout time and throughout the world. In Advent, we stop and we say, that’s not so different from who we are. We can remember, we can have compassion and we can identify with this process of having unfulfilled promises and unfulfilled wishes.”
As much as the season is about preparation and waiting, says Lorentzen, it is also about joy, which will be reflected in the scripture chosen for service in the coming weeks.
“I think the lovely thing about Advent is that it’s psychologically helpful. Reminds us that we enjoy things much more when we’ve taken the time to prepare,” said Lorentzen.
He continued on to speak about the candles on the advent wreath which will soon be on display alongside other decorations, with one candle lit each Sunday leading up to their Christmas Eve celebration, which will take place that evening, the earlier beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the latter at 11 p.m.
The wreath marks the passing of time leading up to the beginning of the 12 days of Christmas, with the blue, pink and white candles representing different themes of the season.
This service taking place in the evening allows for attendees to spend Christmas morning with their families or other household traditions. The earlier service will be larger and more family-oriented, while the later service is more traditional, featuring Old English.
Anyone is welcome to attend any of these services, says Lorentzen, and are encouraged to come together in solidarity and in reminding themselves of God’s solidarity.
“I tell people that Medicine Hat is my parish. So anybody is welcome here on a Sunday morning. Doesn’t matter what the Sunday is,” said Lorentzen.
He recommended newcomers to St. Barnabas to consider attending on Dec. 14 as well, as it will be when they host lessons and carols, a traditional English celebration with plenty of music.
