Privilege Reframed, Power Redefined
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
We revisit these words from Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) each year during Advent. As I pen this reflection on the day between All Saints' Sunday and Election Day, I ponder them through an acute sense of dis-ease and instability. While All Saints' Sunday worship and the Chancel Choir's offering of Bob Chilcott's Requiem invited us to engage deeply with grief and loss, the turmoil of American politics reminds us of just how powerless we often feel.
In a world filled with conditions frequently beyond our control, Mary's words are a reminder that God is always on the side of the downtrodden, the weak, the grieving, the disenfranchised. Yes, grief, loss, turmoil, discontent, and corruption are inescapable. But, against all logic, our greatest spiritual strength and empowerment is cultivated in the crucible of these realities, refined only when we acknowledge the human limitations that we are quick to protest, cover up, or ignore.
People of faith are called to conspire with God to bring heaven to earth, to work for peace, and to fight for justice. Mary's counter-cultural insight is that our place of privilege and power, the place from which our most effective action springs, is often one of helplessness and brokenness. Over and over, the biblical narrative makes clear that God is on the side of the least and the lost, routinely transforming that position of perceived unworthiness into a place of honor. What a thrill of hope!
The pages of this issue highlight Music & Arts’ Advent offerings that will call us into hope, for it is in this hope that a weary world rejoices. It is from this position that we are exalted and filled with good things. It is in this pattern that a baby from humble beginnings, born in a manger, saves the world. It is from this point of unlikely privilege and power that we are given the Christ-child who comes to make all things new.
- Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries
Echoes of Christmas Past: Embracing
the Art, Worship & Wonder of Advent
The arrival of the Advent and Christmas season always causes me to recall my childhood at my home church. As decorations go up and are placed in every church I’ve served, the enduring images of Antioch UMC in Rural Hall pervade my memories: the smell of the cedar tree brought in by my uncles from the woods near the church; the large bulbs that hung down from the thin branches; the strings of popcorn, the delicate homemade ornaments made from scraps of quilting cloth; beads on pins meticulously stuck into Styrofoam balls; shiny tinsel hanging from every branch, blowing in the soft breeze from the furnace heat and reflecting the glow of the multi-colored lights; the Christmas pageant with the small, wooden manger and a baby doll wrapped in swaddling clothes; Mary and Joseph in their terry cloth robes; children who practiced for weeks to memorize Scripture verses on slips of paper, all assembled – in the candlelight and under the light of a bright star hanging above the altar – to sing and to repeat the sounding joy of Jesus and his love.n
Whether the story is told in the gentle, soft-spoken words of a child reciting memorized lines or celebrated in glorious choruses sung by a choir, the joy of Christmas is beautifully captured in worship and arts in the church. These traditions and expressions of Advent and Christmas provide us with comfort in an oftenchaotic world. Our participation in worship and utilization of the arts invite reflection, hope, and a deeper connection to faith.
Worship at a Glance
November 17
Children in Worship 11:00 AM
December 1 • First Sunday of Advent Carillonneurs in Worship 11:00 AM
December 8 • Second Sunday of Advent Children in Worship 11:00 AM
December 15 • Third Sunday of Advent Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols 5:00 PM
December 22 • Fourth Sunday of Advent Brass in Worship 11:00 AM
December 24 • Christmas Eve Worship with the Chancel Choir & String Ensemble 11:00 PM
The use of visual arts during Advent serves as a powerful medium for conveying the themes of the season. Just as I remember from childhood and through the churches I have served, the Advent wreaths, candles, nativity scenes, Chrismons, and liturgical colors (such as purple, blue, and red) create a visual narrative that enhances the worship experience. Hymns, carols, and choral anthems that reflect the themes of hope, peace, joy, love, and longing resonate deeply with us and encapsulate the anticipation of Christ’s arrival. The act of singing together fosters community and uplifts our spirits, encouraging a shared journey toward Christmas, and we echo the bright angel choruses that announced the Messiah’s birth.
All of our arts and worship practices during Advent are integral to the season’s significance and our overall experiences. They create a rich, tangible tapestry of encounters that invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of the Incarnation. By engaging in the arts and participating in worship, we can all deepen our understanding of the anticipation and joy that defines this sacred time. As Advent unfolds at Centenary, the beauty of our music, worship, and arts offers us expressive opportunities to prepare for the celebration of Christmas, creates new indelible memories, and invites us all to embrace the hope and light that Christ brings into the world.
He is indeed Emmanuel – God with us!
Centenary and the Child Care Resource Center of Winston-Salem are proud to jointly offer Kindermusik classes for all children, birth through age 4 (alongside their caregiver). Join us every Wednesday in the East Building for classes using award-winning Kindermusik curricula taught by licensed and experienced Kindermusik educators!
9:00 AM | Kindermusik Foundations (0- and 1-year-olds)
10:00 AM | Kindermusik Level 1 Sing & Play (1- and 2-year-olds)
11:00 AM | Kindermusik Level 2 Wiggle & Grow (2- and 3-year-olds)
- Rev. Oliver Helsabeck
Creative Arts Experience
Register your child now for Centenary’s popular Creative Arts Experience (CAE)! CAE immerses young people in a wide-ranging program which includes singing, ringing, Orff, Kindermusik, visual arts, and more, all while cultivating regular worship leadership opportunities for Centenary's youngest! Sign up now via the QR code below to join us on Wednesdays this fall!
Weekly Schedule
4:30 - 5:15 Kindermusik: Ages 2 & 3 (Adult Participation Required)*
5:15 - 6:00 Church-wide Dinner
6:00 - 7:00 CAE for ages 4 & up
*Ages 2 & 3 who are not available for the Wednesday night class are eligible for a Thursday night class beginning at 5:30 PM.
