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Advent retreat based on Twelve Words of Christmas
By LINDA M. LINONIS
CANFIELD
From Black Friday to Christmas Eve, the days often are a whirlwind of shopping, baking, wrapping presents, writing out Christmas cards, making travel and family plans and other seasonal tasks. Advent services at churches focus on the anticipation of the birth of Jesus.
It also should be a time to think about what the birth of Jesus means and how it affects one personally and spiritually.
About 25 people recently attended an Advent retreat at the Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road. Some were involved in the “Celebrate the Savior” Christian discipleship program that includes women of different faiths.
Carol Craven led the program, which focused on the reason for the season and not the hubbub.
“It can’t be all in your head and nothing gets to your heart,” she said of one’s relationship with the Lord. “We’re all innkeepers who decided if there’s room for Jesus,” she said, adding it is up to people to “open their hearts, homes and churches to baby Jesus.”
Craven said, “If we are only with other Christians, we’re only feeding each other.”
She continued Christians need to step out of comfort zones and “bring the love of Christ ... so it may change the life of a person.”
She showed a video by Louie Giglio on “The Twelve Words of Christmas.” He is pastor of Passion City Church, Atlanta, Ga. The public speaker and author founded the Passion Movement, a global campaign of college-aged people living for Jesus Christ. He has a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Giglio said Christmas is a chaotic time, though many want a picture-perfect Christmas that doesn’t exist. He said contemporary people are dealing with a multitude of circumstances including health issues, a new baby, loss of a loved one, a breakup or divorce and other challenges in their families.
But, he pointed out, these situations of nonperfection mirror events surrounding Jesus’ birth.
“Nothing was perfect the night Jesus was born, except the baby,” he said.
Giglio speculated that Mary was hoping the donkey ride to Nazareth, the City of David, wouldn’t put her into labor but it probably helped do that. Then, she and Joseph found no room at any inn and ended up probably not in the idealized cozy stable but a cavelike setting.
“Then there’s the cloud of scandal,” Giglio said, noting Mary and Joseph were betrothed, not married. Mary and Joseph believed the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she conceived. But did the neighbors believe that? Giglio asked. Giglio said Mary and Joseph had great faith, but that didn’t mean others did.
But all this fades away with the birth of Jesus, heralded by angels.
“A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord” are the words that change the world.
“This is God bridging the gap,” Giglio said. “God chose to enter into humanity.”
Giglio’s words and activities at the retreat were meant to help put this time of year in perspective, a time of waiting for the greatest gift from God, His son.
Participants engaged in a quiet time, when some walked in the center while others sat at the tables, reflecting.
As an activity, Craven asked participants to jot down on a slip of paper their plans “as innkeepers” from Advent to Christmas. Then they inserted the paper into a clear bulb with a tag they labeled, an ornament earmarked for a Christmas tree.
Craven also touched on the idea that many want to have a “perfect Christmas.” “Jesus is the Savior, not us,” she emphasized, noting people can’t make it all right. “When we realize what Christmas is really all about, it’s cause for celebration.”
Mary Assion of Boardman was among participants. “I wanted to do something spiritually for myseslf,” she said of attending the retreat.
Liz Magee of New Middletown said the retreat helped give her a new perspective. Her husband, Denny, said it was another opportunity to know Christ.
“Celebrate the Savior” sessions continue in 2016 beginning Jan. 26; call the center at 330-799-4941 or visit www.ursulinecenter.org.