Advent Austerity

—Reverend Dr Beth Echols

Why oh why is the Church not in step with the outside world with merriment, and carols and Christmas decorations?  The Church seems to be practically an empty tomb, cold and vast when just outside the doors is singing and indulgence.
 
There are fewer decorations, and the hope is not fulfilled in the blossoming of flowers.  The altar appears stripped, and the memory of Maundy Thursday is greater in the lengthening shadow of the growing darkness.  The Church of England with whom St. Benedict Episcopal Church in Lacey is in relationship puts it like this,
 
But there might be greenery instead of flowers. This allows us to recognize that the Christian life isn’t all about celebration. It’s about hope and faith during times of sadness and challenge, too. There have been many times in history when God’s people have longed for God to come and save them, and there are times in our own life when we pray that God would come and help us, too. Those times can feel like a long, dark night. We long for the greenery to turn to flowers, just as we long for our sadness and our hope to turn to joy.