The season of Advent needs a refresh. That’s because, somehow, one of the greatest stories ever told has grown stale in many churches around the country. Many faith communities mark the season with the same traditions they’ve observed for decades, like the hanging of the greens, lighting the Advent wreath, live nativity, children’s pageant, and singing a candlelit “Silent Night” at Christmas Eve services.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with these traditions, and no doubt some people in your faith community look forward to participating in them every year. But the temptation to fall into predictable patterns has robbed these rituals of their meaning, too often causing the whole season to feel like weeks of simply going through the motions.
The temptation to fall into predictable patterns has robbed these rituals of their meaning.
There are countless reasons faith communities fall into observing Advent through the lens of “this is how we’ve always done it.” And yet, this way of approaching the sacred season is as threadbare as worn-out, live nativity costumes. Your faith community can make a different choice this year.
Approaching Advent With Theological Rocks
Planning Advent through the lens of what the Innovation Lab calls “Theological Rocks,” on the other hand, enlivens traditions and sparks entirely new ways of celebrating Jesus’ birth as a community.
A Theological Rock is a foundational belief or value that guides how a particular faith community understands God and God’s activity in the world.
Theological Rocks form the bedrock of every ministry program, activity, and tradition. Ideally, a faith community’s Theological Rocks should inform every ministry decision that’s made.
As one example, national data show that parents are disproportionately overwhelmed and stressed, regardless of context, compared to other adults. A faith community that serves many young families might discern that “sabbath” is one of their Theological Rocks.
So during Advent, the question for their faith community might become: “How can our church be a place of sabbath, rest, and calm for parents amidst the chaos of the holidays?” This question changes everything about how the faith community observes the sacred season of Advent and which activities they do (or don’t) create.
3 Questions to Transform Advent
Perhaps nowhere else (besides Easter) is there a greater opportunity for your faith community’s Theological Rocks to have an impact than during Advent. That’s because you’re likely to welcome both new visitors and people you haven’t seen in months or even years.
With every liturgy, prayer, community event, and worship service, your faith community has the opportunity to share the Christmas story in a transformative way by meeting people where they are this year.
But this level of intentional planning won’t just happen. As your faith community plans for Advent, consider these questions and be sure your responses tangibly guide how you move forward.
- What three values and beliefs about God and people are most important to your faith community in this season of your ministry? In other words, what are three of your Theological Rocks?
- What can you do differently this year so people in your community tangibly experience these Theological Rocks through the services, liturgies, and rhythms of Advent?
- How will you ensure every worship service, community outreach event, and mission opportunity gives people the opportunity to experience at least one Theological Rock?
Need help putting these ideas into action? Register today for our upcoming workshop on October 15, “How to Create a More Sacred Advent.” You’ll learn how your context’s theology can help your faith community create a more transformational Advent this year.
About the Author: Meghan is the director of the Innovation Laboratory. She has served diverse faith communities through pastoral leadership, youth ministry, new church development, community engagement, and ministry innovation. Meghan has a Bachelor of Journalism, a Master of Science in Sustainable Development and Applied Sociology, and a Master of Divinity.