THE OPEN DOOR The Briarcliff Congregational Church 30 South State Road, PO Box 290, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510 914-941-4368 www.briarcliffchurch.org “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.” Revelation 3:8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Deacons 2 Messiah Sing-Along 2 Greening the Church 3 Benevolence News 3 Women’s Society News 3 Notes from Fimi 4 Christian Education News 5 Celebrations 5 Thank You! 5 December Calendar Dear Good People of Briarcliff Church, “Lo! He Come with Clouds Descending” is one of my favorite hymns for early Advent because it so beautifully acknowledges a profound Christian idea: What we await and prepare for in Advent, at least in the early days of the season, is not so much the Babe of Bethlehem (the Incarnation) as it is the return of Christ (the Parousia). That Christ should return to earth in glory is an odd notion Christians have held and puzzled about since the first century. Concerning it, this nineteenth century hymn text by Charles Wesley reads, in part, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign.” It’s a joyous thing, this return of Christ. But it is also complicated and not without judgment. So the hymn also imagines the “deep wailing” involved. Messiah’s return is emphasized in the Biblical readings prescribed for the first part of the Advent season, as well. Those lessons anticipate the end of time as we know it and the beginning, or realization (advent), of God’s holy realm on earth. Because of this, the spirit of our early Advent worship is somber. This, in turn, makes the first days of December in the church feel very different than what the season’s secular gaiety all around us suggests. In the tradition of the church there’s dark foreboding, diffused only by the fragile light of one Advent candle. It is an awe-full time. And most of us resist it. In fact, most of us don’t like “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” at all and some have asked me not to include it in our liturgies as a hymn for the congregation! Can’t know about you, but I’m eager for Advent this year – not prepared, just eager. The crises in our world are rampant and the anxiety they cause spills into our daily lives – lives that are already stressed by personal troubles and concerns. That the traditions of Christendom and church-life provide a time for us to acknowledge our fear, express our sense of powerlessness and voice our yearning for joy is, I think, a great gift. Where else is “the gnashing of teeth” appropriate? And where else do we really dare, or ever find, hope? I like the bleakness of early Advent: It resonates in the places where my soul seems to dwell. Continued page 2 SAVE THESE DATES DECEMBER 4 Women’s Society Greens 5 Greening of the Church 7 CE Advent Fair Messiah Sing-Along 15 Cookie Packing 21 Christmas Pageant 24 Christmas Eve Worship JANUARY 4 Epiphany Brunch 8 Women’s Society 26 Church Council Meeting Contact Us At: rosborough @briarcliffchurch.org AND church-office @briarcliffchurch.org Volume 67 Number 4 December 2014
Transcript
1
THE OPEN DOOR
The Briarcliff Congregational Church 30 South State Road, PO Box 290, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510
914-941-4368 www.briarcliffchurch.org
“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.” Revelation 3:8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
From the Deacons 2
Messiah Sing-Along 2
Greening the Church 3
Benevolence News 3
Women’s Society News 3
Notes from Fimi 4
Christian Education News 5
Celebrations 5
Thank You! 5
December Calendar
Dear Good People of Briarcliff Church,
“Lo! He Come with Clouds Descending” is one of my favorite hymns for early
Advent because it so beautifully acknowledges a profound Christian idea:
What we await and prepare for in Advent, at least in the early days of the
season, is not so much the Babe of Bethlehem (the Incarnation) as it is the return
of Christ (the Parousia). That Christ should return to earth in glory is an odd
notion Christians have held and puzzled about since the first century.
Concerning it, this nineteenth century hymn text by Charles Wesley reads, in
part, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign.” It’s a joyous
thing, this return of Christ. But it is also complicated and not without judgment.
So the hymn also imagines the “deep wailing” involved.
Messiah’s return is emphasized in the Biblical readings prescribed for the first
part of the Advent season, as well. Those lessons anticipate the end of time as
we know it and the beginning, or realization (advent), of God’s holy realm on
earth. Because of this, the spirit of our early Advent worship is somber. This, in
turn, makes the first days of December in the church feel very different than
what the season’s secular gaiety all around us suggests. In the tradition of the
church there’s dark foreboding, diffused only by the fragile light of one Advent
candle. It is an awe-full time. And most of us resist it. In fact, most of us don’t
like “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” at all and some have asked me
not to include it in our liturgies as a hymn for the congregation!
Can’t know about you, but I’m eager for Advent this year – not prepared, just
eager. The crises in our world are rampant and the anxiety they cause spills
into our daily lives – lives that are already stressed by personal troubles and
concerns. That the traditions of Christendom and church-life provide a time for
us to acknowledge our fear, express our sense of powerlessness and voice our
yearning for joy is, I think, a great gift. Where else is “the gnashing of teeth”
appropriate? And where else do we really dare, or ever find, hope? I like the
bleakness of early Advent: It resonates in the places where my soul seems to
dwell.
Continued page 2
SAVE THESE DATES
DECEMBER
4 Women’s Society Greens
5 Greening of the Church
7 CE Advent Fair
Messiah Sing-Along
15 Cookie Packing
21 Christmas Pageant
24 Christmas Eve Worship
JANUARY
4 Epiphany Brunch
8 Women’s Society
26 Church Council Meeting
Contact Us At:
rosborough
@briarcliffchurch.org
AND
church-office
@briarcliffchurch.org
Volume 67 Number 4 December 2014
2
Anyway, I’m rambling, as I often do. The simple
truth is Advent, the season we keep in the church
before Christmas, is a rich, multi-layered time.
Our worship is full of wonderful music for choir
and congregation, provocative texts from Scripture
(and my stumbling efforts at reflecting on them),
and rituals that feed our spirits in ways nothing
else can. I find all this to be full of deep meaning
and I commend it to you. Through its disciplines
we’ll welcome Christ, Messiah, Salvation,
Reconciliation, a Baby together; and with the Holy
Child’s advent, we might be ourselves born anew.
Looking forward to sharing all this and more
with YOU,
The Rev’d Dr. Bonnie Rosborough, Pastor
FROM THE DEACONS
On Saturday, October 25th the Deacons had their
annual spiritual retreat. This year the day – which
turned out to be a beautiful sunny fall day – was
spent together at the Mariandale retreat center,
and reflected on the roots of our faith, utilizing
both Scripture and reading from “To Begin at the
Beginning” by the Reverend Martin Copenhaver.
Pastor Bonnie and the Deacons will be sharing the
fruits of this experience as we move further into
the church year.
October 28th – Reformation Sunday – was a
particularly busy Sunday. Geoff and Suzy Harter’s
grand-daughter was baptized, and the refurbished
entryway to the sanctuary was dedicated to the
memory of the late Van Porter.
As the holidays are now upon us and sweep us up
in hectic activity and many commitments, we can
feel the urge to step away and reflect, to become
quiet and contemplate the coming Good News.
Last year at BCC we began an Advent practice of
reading and discussing as a group – via email --
the daily reflections in the UCC book of Advent
reflections. This was well received, and repeated
again at Lent earlier this year.
This Advent season we will be continuing this
community practice and we will again be using
the UCC Advent reflections as a guide for reading,
reflecting and sharing. To help the discussion flow
freely, the Deacons have established a dedicated
Google Group to act as a virtual meeting place --
anyone interested in joining the group can send a
short note to: briarcliff-church-advent-discussion-
