ADVENT 2018 THE OLIN T. BINKLEY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH
ADVENT 2018 T he Spanish phrase Las Posadas is translated in English as "lodging" or "accommodation." It brings to mind the nativity story found in the gospels of Mary and Joseph seeking a place for lodging, shelter, a place for a birth of a Child. Will there be room in any inn (not just long ago in Bethlehem town) for such a blessed event? In many Latin American cultures the festivities around Las Posadas occur as a nine-day celebration prior to Christmas (a novena) in which a search for lodging is re-enacted by two people dressed up as the holy family. One song sung during the period is "Pedir Posada," meaning, "I'm asking for a place to stay." Asking for a place to stay. Begging for lodging and shelter. Seeking the places where hope, peace, joy, and love could be birthed. This is our Advent theme for 2018, which stretches beyond the typical nine-day pattern, asking ourselves and others: Where can hope, peace, joy, and love be lodged in us and in the world? Will we open the door to receive the gift of any immigrant family, welcoming the opportunity to provide a place of lodging for various holy birthings? *Marcus McFaul
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Star-shaped piñatas are an integral part of traditional Posadas celebrations. Sunday, December 2 First Sunday in Advent: HOPE 9:00 AM Morning Celebration Lounge 9:30 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship: Dana Trent preaching: Where Can Hope Find Lodging? 3:00 PM Hanging of the Greens with Christmas Crafts Sunroom, Lounge 5:15 PM Advent Evening Prayer 5:30 PM Chili Supper Fellowship Hall Wednesday, December 5 12:00 pm Advent Taizé Service Chapel 5:30 pm Twelve Sustainable Days of Christmas: Wednesday Evening Program Fellowship Hall Sunday, December 9 Second Sunday in Advent: PEACE 9:00 AM Morning Celebration Lounge 9:30 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship: Marcus McFaul preaching: Where Can Peace Find Lodging? 4:00 PM Caroling 7:30 PM Youth Christmas Party Osborne Home Wednesday, December 12 12:00 pm Advent Taizé Service Chapel
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Sunday, December 16 Third Sunday in Advent: JOY 9:45 AM Christmas Coffee & Worship Fellowship Hall 11:00 AM Worship: Nativity Reenactment; Marcus McFaul: preaching: Where Can Joy Find Lodging? 7:00 PM Lovefeast in the Moravian Tradition Wednesday, December 19 12:00 PM Advent Taizé Service Chapel 6:00 PM Blue Christmas Service Chapel Sunday, December 23 Fourth Sunday in Advent: LOVE 11:00 AM Worship: Marcus McFaul preaching: Where Can Love Find Lodging? Christmas Eve Monday, December 24 4:00 PM A Service for Children and Families 7:00 PM A Service of Carols, Candlelight & Communion Marcus McFaul preaching: Where Light Finds a Home
We welcome you to participate and volunteer wherever you are led in this joyful season. CRÈCHE BEARING Each Sunday, young children are invited to carry crèche figures into the sanctuary and place them in the stable. This reminds us of Jesus birth and those who first welcomed him. Sign up for this opportunity on the bulletin board next to the Christian Formation office beginning 11/25. CAROLING CHANGE FOR 2018 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 4 PM HANGING OF THE GREENS WITH CHRISTMAS CRAFTS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 3:00 5:00 PM We welcome in the season as a faith community with this annual event. Come prepare Christmas items to keep and to share! Volunteers are needed to bring plain sugar cookies for decorating, as well as to setup and cleanup. Contact Stephanie Ford, stephanie@binkleychurch.org to volunteer. ADVENT EVENING PRAYER 5:15 PM CHILI SUPPER IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL 5:30 PM Bring canned food items to benefit the IFC. We need meat and veggie chili cooks, dessert and cornbread providers, and set up/clean up volunteers. Contact Jim Wise, jwwise@gmail.com, to help with the meal. For as long as memory serves, Binkley has sung carols to members and friends in homes, health centers and assisted living centers following a full day of Hanging the Greens, Christmas Crafts, Advent worship and a yummy chili supper. These activities have always followed a wonderful morning of Sunday School and worship. With caroling concluding around 8 pm, some have noted that this might be a very full day (even for Advent). Therefore, we are boldly stepping out to embrace a change in caroling. We will begin in the Fellowship Hall with hot chocolate and voice tune ups and then divide ourselves into the necessary number of groups. Following our brief rehearsal, we are off to bring song, good cheer, and goodie baskets (crafted the week prior) to friends who will be happy to receive us. By arriving earlier in the evening, more residents are likely to be awake and in good voice to join us in song. Please sign up in the narthex beginning November 25. You may also sign up by calling the church office. The more carolers we enlist, the more people we can visit. Dale is also looking for caroling group leaders and musicians. Let him know if you can help.
NATIVITY REENACTMENT REHEARSAL: DECEMBER 15, 1:00 PM, SANCTUARY REENACTMENT: DECEMBER 16, 11:00 AM, WORSHIP Through drama, Binkley children will bring new life to Luke s account of Jesus birth. Dress rehearsal will be on Saturday, December 15, at 1:00 pm. The nativity reenactment will take place during 11 am worship on December 16. The reenactors will be joined by the Children s Choir as they sing music of the season. Sign up for this opportunity on the bulletin board next to the Christian Formation office beginning 11/25. CHRISTMAS COFFEE & WORSHIP DECEMBER 16, 9:45 AM Regular Church School classes meet for the last time on December 9. On Sunday, December 16, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 am (note different time) for singing, intergenerational reflection, coffee, juice, and breakfast snacks. Our nativity reenactors are welcome to come in costume. There will be no Sunday School on December 23 or 30. LOVEFEAST IN THE MORAVIAN TRADITION DECEMBER 16, 7:00 PM The Youth Group, along with many beautiful voices, the sounds of brass, bells, piano and organ playing make this night of worship to God full of sights, sounds and smells. This worship service tradition was instituted by the Moravian Church early in the eighteenth century. Sweet coffee and Lovefeast buns are served, beeswax candles wrapped in red ribbon are lit and lifted high. Traditional carols welcome the coming of Christmas as all are invited to sing. Parents of children under 4 may sign up for childcare by calling the church office (942-4964) by December 10.
NOON TAIZÉ SERVICES DECEMBER 5, 12, & 19 12 NOON, CHAPEL Thirty-minute contemplative services of prayer and Taizé chant. A time to find center during this season of hurry. BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE DECEMBER 19 6:00 PM, CHAPEL A service of remembrance and hope for those who are grieving during the holiday season. Monday, December 24 SERVICE FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND EXTENDED FAMILIES: 4:30 PM A child-friendly service with opportunities to move, interact, and sing. SERVICE OF CAROLS, CANDLELIGHT, AND COMMUNION: 7:00 PM Marcus McFaul preaching. *Please note that childcare is not provided on Christmas Eve. STUDENT SUNDAY WORSHIP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018, 11:00 AM Worship on December 30 will be led by Binkley college & graduate students. Dale Osborne will preach. Students: If you are available to provide worship leadership and would like to join together for a free lunch after worship on Student Sunday, please contact Dale at 919-237-9125 or dale@binkleychurch.org.
A s we look forward to and joyfully anticipate the birth of the Christ-child, let us also seek to serve Christ's brothers and sisters who walk among us in need of warm winter clothing and nourishing food. The Tree of Warmth will be bare in the narthex beginning on December 9. We are all encouraged to adorn it with gently used or new winter gear. The clothing will be distributed to people who visit our church on Friday mornings as well as to the people who visit the free clothing garage at St. Thomas More. In addition, decorated boxes will replace our usual food basket in the narthex on December 2. These colorful boxes await your food donations. The food you donate will be taken to the IFC food pantry three times between December 3 and January 3. Thank you for being mindful and supportive of people who may be cold and hungry this Advent season. *Dale Osborne