Links for today’s readings:

Read: Ezra 4 Listen: (4:27)
Read: Revelation 3 Listen: (3:53)

Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 14:33

33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…

Reflection: The Stillness of Holidays — Peace of Advent

By Erin Newton

The blanketing of snow on our rare winter days brings the most sought-after stillness and silence in the world. The commotion of daily busyness ceases. Men, women, and children are confined to their houses (hopefully) bundled together by the warmth of the fire. The animals too retreat into the warmth of their nests, holes, hives, or burrows. Stillness falls on the earth. Even the vibrancy of all the colors of creation is hushed with the covering of white. Plans stall. Calendars pause. It is, at least for me, the most peaceful day of the year—and extremely rare.

After we have tasted the peace of Christ that makes us whole, after we have seen conflict resolve and justice reign, the peace that falls on our lives and souls is the stillness from life’s unquietness. We have so many words to describe it: contentment, calmness, stillness, quietness, serenity. There is beauty in the lack of hustle just like there is beauty in a world covered in snow.

The Christmas hymns we sing portray the birth of our Savior in this quiet, peaceful atmosphere. “All is calm, all is bright.” “The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.” It is the presence of God among humanity that brings this divine calmness, at least as we imagine that fateful night.

With ceaseless wars and continual injustices, the calmness of peace does not describe our world today. Chaos continues and the waves come crashing down around us.

We’ve explored the ways in which we can wait expectantly for the peace of Christ during Advent. What about stillness? What about calm?

We should continue to look within our souls, to be reminded of the wholeness granted to us by his peace and ask Christ to create calmness in our hearts. (As someone diagnosed with chronic anxiety, I know this is harder than it sounds.)

The blankets of snow in winter have the effect of absorbing sounds. Snow fills potholes and evens the horizon. It envelopes the world and with it the loud, hectic movement that defines our typical weeks. That is like this divine peace we wait for expectantly.

The peace of Advent grants us the hope of bringing stillness to our lives, or at least within our souls. Peace comes through the surety of who Christ is and the inability of anything to dethrone him.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Cry of the Church

O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant me your peace.

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about The Lowly and the Lofty — Peace of Advent

Will you put your shoulder to the work or abstain? Will you put your faith into action?

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Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 14.3, 26
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort…What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

Reflection: Critique that Builds Up
By John Tillman

As an actor, director, and teacher of theatre, I have a heightened appreciation for many aspects of theatre and a broader palette of theatrical taste than the average entertainment seeker. But in the wrong circumstances, I can turn into a cynical critic of performances, spotting errors that others don’t notice and cringing at choices that seem fine to the audience.

A similar thing can happen to those experienced in leading worship in any capacity. When they are not leading, those who are experienced leaders and designers of worship can be the most passionate participants, but can also be the most bitter of critics.

Dissatisfaction with forms of worship is not new. (Jesus clearing the Temple comes to mind.)
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul seemed especially concerned for Christian worship to develop an ordered, discernable form. He desired a form with functions both of edification of believers and evangelization of non-believers and outsiders. He wanted believers not to simply be emotionally entertained, but intellectually informed. He wanted believers not to display mere intellectual prowess, but to faithfully demonstrate the power of God.

Paul speaks in the manner of a director giving notes, or a stage manager calling the cues:
“Two or three should speak. No more. Don’t pull focus. Don’t improvise things that are over the audience’s head. If they can’t understand it, they won’t come back. Stop talking over other people’s lines!”

One of the most valuable things that a healthy experience in theatre can teach, is to give and take criticism. You learn to “take the note.” This means owning the mistake, as well as the responsibility for correcting it. In theatre, when you get a note, you are being called out for an error. Healthy notes are given in love—love for participants, for the source material, and for the audience.

As critical as Paul is, he never loses his love for what is happening. He doesn’t allow critique to turn bitter and cynical. Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church is tumultuous and passionate. In the messiness of this scandal-filled church, we see a mirror held up to our modern institutions of worship.

May we seek the passion of Paul for worship done well, without losing his love for worshipers even when they do everything wrong.

May our critiques be loving and build others up—never cynical call-outs and tear-downs.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm
Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not worship a foreign god.
I am the Lord you God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, “open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” — Psalm 81.8-10

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Samuel 3 (Listen – 6:35) 
1 Corinthians 14 (Listen – 5:40)

Read more from Lewis on Liturgiology — Part 1
Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore.

Read more about Rumors or Repentance
When someone critiques you and calls you to repent, what will you do?