Colleen Coleman-
Wanting to reflect on the past year during the hectic end of the semester or wanting to find comfort in the Advent season? Come join in the time of self-reflection in Advent during Chapel Break from 10:00 -10:30 a.m. on Nov. 27th, Dec. 4th, and Dec. 11th in Christ Chapel. The services include music, reading, prayers, and Holy Communion.
The Advent services open with the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath. The celebration of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. The time is considered by many to be a time of preparation, anticipation, and expectation of Christmas and Jesus being born into the world. According to Chaplain Betsy Hoium, the services’ opening reading states that “… the promise of Advent is that God is at work in the world, bringing new beginnings and a new creation.” Along with this, the reading also states that “we can cling to the promise that a child will come to us, his name shall be wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
First-year Grace LaTourelle was a candle lighter during the Dec. 4th service and read scripture as well. “This is incredibly meaningful to me because my faith is everything to me – it’s my hope, my joy, and my life,” said LaTourelle. LaTourelle has been involved in the faith-based communities on campus since arriving, with her being a member of Sunday Worship Community, Proclaim, as well as regularly attending daily chapel, and considers it an important part of her routine and days at Gustavus. “The community is welcoming, accepting, and loving. It’s a group of people that genuinely cares about you and treats you with so much warmth and compassion,” said LaTourelle.
Dr. Chad Winterfeldt, Cantor of Christ Chapel, says that he’s excited to sing hymns of promise and expectation for these services. “I think that in the Lutheran tradition, the music for the season of Advent is some of the most rich and joyful music that often gets eclipsed by the music for Christmas,” said Winterfeldt. Advent services will have traditional hymns, such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness.”
Advent comes at a time when we are at our busiest: a time to pause, reflect, and slow down. Even for those who don’t celebrate, the time is beneficial to take a moment to breathe. “Advent comes at the darkest time of year as the days of December grow shorter and we are weary,” said Chaplain Hoium. As the weather grows colder and the sun sets earlier and earlier, many believe it’s comforting to find solace in Advent.
Especially during the end of the semester, full of papers, projects, tests, and anxiety, Advent is seen as a beginning, even through the darkness. LaTourelle says that the Advent services are important to her because they center her during a season of stress. “The services represent gratitude, jubilation, grace, humility, and true, unparalleled, freeing love,” said LaTourelle.