A reflection on the melodies and messages of Advent that enrich our faith, worship, and holiday spirit.
Week One: Found by the One Born to Give Us Life – Page 3
Thursday, December 5, 2024 – 7:00 PM ET
Title: Found by the One Born to Give Us Life
Author: Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton
Scripture: Luke 2:11-14 (21st Century King James Version)
Featured Song: Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto – James Brown
Reflection Themes: Hope for marginalized communities and God’s gift of dignity and worth.
Discussion Questions: Exploring parallels between the ghetto and Jesus’ birth, the role of faith in uplifting marginalized communities, and the transformative power of music.
Week Two: Anticipation - Page: 7
Thursday, December 12, 2024 – 7:00 PM ET
Title: Anticipation: Tiny Tots with Their Eyes All Aglow
Author: Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr.
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Featured Song: The Christmas Song – Nat “King” Cole
Reflection Themes: Light in darkness, the joy of anticipation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Discussion Questions: Interpreting darkness and light, the shepherds’ search for the Messiah, and how traditions like music inspire hope.
Week Three: How Wonderful to Wonder and Wander Page: 11
Thursday, December 19, 2024 – 7:00 PM ET
Title: How Wonderful to Wonder and Wander
Author: Rev. Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Featured Song: I Wonder as I Wander – Mahalia Jackson
Reflection Themes: The spiritual practice of wondering and wandering, the role of discomfort in growth, and the transformative power of Advent.
Discussion Questions: Exploring the connection between wonder and creativity, moments of spiritual dis-ease, and embracing uncertainty
Bonus Reflection: Following the Lord’s Pace – Page 16
Author: Rev. Marben Bland
Scripture: Luke 2:15-18 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Featured Song: Rise Up Shepherd and Follow Reflection Themes: Trusting God’s timing, acting on divine opportunities, and aligning with God’s pace.
Discussion Questions: Reflecting on God’s timing, overcoming hesitation, and faithfully responding to His call.
Introduction
Faith, Melodies, and Advent
The Rev. Marben Bland
Advent is a season where faith is often proclaimed through melodies that resonate deeply with the spirit of the season. Whether secular or sacred, the songs of Advent enrich our experience of the holidays— filling our lives with joy, enhancing the warmth of gatherings, and uplifting our worship. These melodies help create the atmosphere that makes this time truly “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
Our Bible study series, inspired by the book Melodies of Faith, complied by Charisse L. Gillett, invites you to explore the power of Advent music. Over three sessions—on Thursdays, December 5, 12, and 19, at 7:00 PM ET we will delve into scripture, reflect on song-based essays, and engage with thought-provoking questions designed to deepen our faith and understanding of the season. Join us for this meaningful journey of music and devotion.
Found by the One Born to Give Us Life
… singing a song with water in my eyes
Advent Week One: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton, Brownsburg, IN Vice President, Great Lakes Region, Christian Church Foundation
Luke 2:11-14
21st Century King James Version
11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
Listen to “Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto” - James Brown https://vimeo.com/1036122564
Found by the One Born to Give Us Life
… singing a song with water in my eyes
Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton
James Brown, one of the most influential soul music singers in history, was on to something when he released the song “Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto” in 1968. Brown was adamant that our Black boys and girls would not be forgotten, marginalized, or downcast during this transformative season. The song asks Santa Claus to “hook up your reindeer, fill every stocking you find,” to go to impoverished communities and bring light and love. Brown declared, “I know what you will see because that was once me” – echoing a vision that life does not begin and end in the ghetto. Jesus was born on the margins of dominant religious and patriarchal structures. The angel declared, “You will find the Babe wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger.” The Baby would be found in the most obscure place economically, socially, and systematically. He would be found where no one chooses to go or live. He would be found in places of despair, giving hope. He would be found in a place without dignity, yet He would give dignity to those who wanted it. It is good to be found by the One born to give us life! God will come get us, bring us out, and set us on the path of life. Reflection: How can communities in poverty gain dignity and rise above the dominant culture that seeks to keep them stagnant? Prayer: Dear God, thank You that the ghetto cannot hold back gifts of dignity, worth, and eternal life found in You. Thank You for coming to us and giving us the gift of liberation. Amen
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
1. Understanding the Text:
• What is the central message of James Brown’s song “Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto”?
• How does the song highlight the experiences of marginalized communities during the holiday season?
2. Comparative Analysis:
• How is Jesus’ birth in a manger similar to the experiences of marginalized communities described in the text?
• What parallels can you draw between the ghetto and the conditions of Jesus’ birthplace as described in the passage?
3. Personal Reflection:
• What does the statement “life does not begin and end in the ghetto” mean to you?
• How have you seen or experienced hope and dignity emerging from unlikely or challenging circumstances?
4. Community and Action:
• In what ways can communities in poverty gain dignity and rise above societal structures that keep them stagnant?
• How can individuals and organizations bring light and love to marginalized communities, as described in the song?
5. Theological Implications:
• What does the phrase “found by the One born to give us life” mean in the context of this passage?
• How does the story of Jesus’ birth inspire hope and a sense of worth for those living in despair?
6. Critical Thinking:
• Why do you think James Brown emphasized bringing attention to impoverished communities during Christmas?
• How can music and art be used as tools to inspire social change and dignity in marginalized communities?
7. Prayerful Reflection:
• What role does faith play in bringing dignity and hope to marginalize communities?
• How can you personally contribute to creating a more inclusive and dignified society for all?
Listen To: In The Ghetto – Elvis Presley https://vimeo.com/1036125183
Anticipation
… Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow
Advent Week Two: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr., Pastor, East Sixth Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Spencer, OK
Matthew 2:1-7-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Listen to: The Christmas Song - Nat “King” Cole https://vimeo.com/1036153988
Anticipation
Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow …
Rev.
Jesse Jackson Jr.,
I was born and raised in Mississippi. I can testify there are two kinds of dark: city dark and country dark. I grew up in the capital city of Jackson, so even on summer nights, the streetlights and house lights provided enough illumination for us children to continue playing outside. I sometimes visited my grandfather in the Mississippi Delta. He lived on a gravel road with no street signs or light posts. When night fell, unless you had a flashlight or lamp, you could not see your hand in front of your face. That country is dark. Country dark is not just a physical manifestation. It is spiritual as well. The political and theological outlook for first-century Palestinian Hebrews was dark. Their ancestors had lived and died waiting for the Messiah. Into this darkness, this dreary reality, an angel appeared and brought a message of hope and light – “good news of great joy.” The wait was over! The Messiah was here! The angel told the shepherds where to find this light that had come into the world. I am sure as they searched, their hearts were filled with anticipation. Nat “King” Cole did not write “The Christmas Song,” but his version is so iconic that it is essentially his song. The lyrics touch all your senses with anticipation. You can smell the chestnuts roasting on the open fire and the turkey cooking in the oven. You can feel the frost nipping at your nose. You can hear the choir singing. You can see the children’s eyes “all aglow.” They waited all year, in symbolic darkness, and now the moment is upon them. The wait was worth it.
Discussion Questions
Personal Reflection:
1. How do you interpret the difference between “city dark” and “country dark” described in the essay? Have you ever experienced either of these types of darkness?
2. How does the imagery of light and darkness relate to moments of hope and despair in your own life?
Historical and Theological Context:
3. What does the essay suggest about the spiritual and political darkness faced by first-century Palestinian Hebrews?
4. How does the angel’s message of “good news of great joy” contrast with the darkness described in the essay?
Symbolism and Anticipation:
5. How does the essay use the metaphor of darkness and light to illustrate the significance of the Messiah’s arrival?
6. How does the anticipation of the shepherds searching for the Messiah compare to the imagery of waiting described in “The Christmas Song”?
Cultural and Artistic Connections:
7. Why do you think Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song” resonates so deeply with the themes of light, hope, and anticipation?
8. How do traditions, such as holiday songs or stories, help people cope with or move beyond symbolic darkness?
Broader Implications:
9. In what ways can the concept of “light in the darkness” be applied to modern struggles or societal issues?
10. How can individuals bring “light” to their communities during times of spiritual or emotional darkness?
Critical Thinking:
11. The essay draws a parallel between waiting for the Messiah and waiting for Christmas. How does anticipation influence the way we value certain moments or events?
12. How does the essay’s use of sensory imagery (e.g., sights, smells, sounds) enhance the reader’s understanding of anticipation and fulfillment?
Listen to: Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child https://vimeo.com/1036157056
How Wonderful to Wonder and Wander
…
… for poor ordinary sinners like you and like I Advent Week Three: Thursday, December 19, 2024
Rev. Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder Professor of New Testament and Culture Director, ACTS DMin in Preaching Program, Homewood, IL
Luke 2:8-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[b] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[c] praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[d] 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Listen To: Mahalia Jackson sing “I Wonder as I Wander https://vimeo.com/1036164438
How Wonderful to Wonder and Wander … for poor ordinary sinners like you and like I … Rev. Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon
I am a word geek. Part of my daily devotion is to not only read something that will lift and challenge me spiritually, but I also check various websites for the “word of the day.” Etymology was one of my favorite courses in high school. I’m still enamored with English and bask in the study of literature, particularly figurative language, i.e. similes, personification, and onomatopoeia (Boom! Crash! Clunk!). Alliteration brings me jubilation and joy. I don’t find correct grammar to be a grave endeavor ; it grounds great growth of mind (see what I just did there?). When I first heard Mahalia Jackson sing “I Wonder as I Wander,” I was just
as astounded by her vocal performance as by the alliterative title itself. The song is a homophone of Advent proportions. It is an invitation to imagine, dream, and allow our creative juices to flow and overflow. As the shepherds wondered about the meaning of singing angels and pondered shining glory, so, too, this song beckons us to think anew concerning the “ordinary” and “poor.” Advent presents an opportunity to contemplate novelty and the “not yet.” The companion of wondering is wandering – to journey without a particular destination. The shepherds are comfortably “out under the sky” until angels come to agitate their silence and elicit angst and terror. The Holy One has a way of causing dis-ease in places of the most unlikely solace. Perhaps that’s the point. Some parts of our journey should rattle and dishevel us. The shepherds’ terror at the sight of the angels perhaps was more to remind them – and us – that the weary wonder and stillness of night need not lull us into spiritual, professional, or communal sleep. Darkness ought not deter us from the wandering or journey that calls us. We are called to wonder as we wander – wherever we are going.
Discussion Questions
Personal Reflection:
1. How does the author’s love for words and language enhance the message of this essay?
2. Have you ever experienced a moment of “wonder” or “wandering” that changed your perspective? What was it like?
Themes of Wonder and Wander:
3. What does it mean to “wonder” as described in the essay? How does this idea connect to creativity and imagination?
4. How does the concept of “wandering” without a destination challenge or affirm your own experiences with uncertainty?
Spiritual Exploration:
5. The essay suggests that the Holy One causes “dis-ease” to draw attention to deeper truths. How have moments of discomfort or disruption led you to spiritual growth or reflection?
6. How does Advent, as described in the essay, create space for contemplating the “ordinary” and “poor”?
Connection to the Shepherds:
7. How do the shepherds’ experiences of wonder and terror resonate with the idea that spiritual journeys often involve both awe and discomfort?
8. Why do you think the angels’ appearance to the shepherds is portrayed as both unsettling and transformative?
Language and Literary Devices:
9. How does the use of figurative language (e.g., alliteration, personification) enhance the essay’s themes of wonder and wandering?
10. What impact does the homophonic title “I Wonder as I Wander” have on your understanding of the essay’s message?
Broader Implications:
11. The author suggests that “darkness ought not deter us” from our journeys. How can this perspective be applied to challenges in personal, professional, or community life?
12. How might embracing both wonder and wandering help you approach uncertainty or change with a new mindset?
Critical Thinking:
13. How does the essay challenge the idea of comfort and stillness as ultimate goals in life?
14. What role do you think wonder and wandering play in fostering innovation, creativity, or spiritual renewal?
Call to Action:
15. What is one area of your life where you feel called to “wonder as you wander”?
16. How can you use moments of awe or discomfort to inspire action or deepen your understanding of the world?
Listen to: Angels We Have Herd
“Following the Lord’s Pace”
…Rise Up Shepard And Follow Bonus Advent Reflection
The Reverend Marben Bland, Pastor Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia
Luke: 2:15-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them,
Listen to: Rise Up Shepard And Follow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TGh5oWzz4E
“Following the Lord’s Pace” …Rise Up Shepard And Follow
The Reverend Marben
Bland
The U.S. Department of Transportation predicts that more Americans than ever will be traveling—by car or plane— this Christmas. Airports and highways will be crowded, and while the speed limit on many interstate highways may be 80 miles per hour, most of us will have to adjust to a slower pace during our journeys.
The pace of our lives is often determined by external forces. Education is paced by years of study. Sports like football, basketball, and hockey are governed by a 60minute clock. Even cooking is ruled by time and temperature.
When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to see Jesus. As recorded in Luke 2:16, the shepherds “went quickly.”
Their decision to go quickly had significant implications:
• Leaving behind valuable things: The shepherds left their flocks unattended. There was no time to arrange for substitute shepherds.
• Setting aside logistics and doubts: They didn’t weigh the pros and cons of the journey. The distance, time, and mode of transportation didn’t matter.
• Resolving all hesitation: Any questions, barriers, or considerations were laid to rest.
The shepherds rose up and followed because they had been called by God.
When God calls us, we are invited to move at His pace— not ours. But how often do we truly follow that divine rhythm?
• How often do we resist because it means leaving behind things we hold dear?
• How often do we hesitate, trapped in endless internal debates about the risks and rewards?
• How often do we fail to move because our questions and doubts remain unresolved?
The shepherds offer us a profound lesson. Their story reminds us that the opportunities of a lifetime only last as long as the lifetime of the opportunity. And the timing of those opportunities is governed by the pace of God.
• If God tells us to go slow, we go slow.
• If God tells us to go fast, we go fast.
• If God calls us to something in between, we follow that pace too.
This Christmas, let us learn from the shepherds. Let us trust God’s timing and move at His pace whatever that may be.
Reflection Questions for “Following the Lord’s Pace”
Personal Reflection:
1. Can you think of a time when you felt called to act quickly but hesitated? What held you back?
2. Have you ever experienced a situation where you resisted God’s timing whether moving too fast or too slow? What was the outcome?
3. What “valuable things” in your life might you find hard to leave behind if God called you to follow Him today?
Spiritual Growth:
4. How does the story of the shepherds inspire you to trust God’s timing, even when it feels uncertain?
5. What barriers or doubts do you typically face when discerning God’s pace for your life? How might you overcome them?
6. How can you better align your daily pace with God’s guidance, especially during busy or stressful seasons?
Practical Application:
7. What opportunities might you be missing because you’re caught in internal debates or unresolved questions?
8. How can you remind yourself to focus on the “lifetime of the opportunity” rather than letting it pass by?
9. How can you intentionally practice patience or urgency, depending on the pace God is calling you to follow?
Community and Service:
10. How might following God’s pace impact the way you interact with others, especially during times of stress or conflict?
11. How can you encourage others in your community to trust God’s timing, particularly when they face doubt or hesitation?
12. What steps can you take this Christmas season to model the shepherds’ faithfulness in responding to God’s call?
Listen To Christmas Time Is Here – Patti Austin https://vimeo.com/1036197352
Bonus Content
Share The Dream
A Community Online Bible Study Series
From Greater Bethel AME Athens
Explore the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through Share the Dream a six-session, one-hour Bible study series presented via video and live webinar.
When
Starting Thursdays, January 23rd at 7:00 PM ET JAN 23 2025
What
Each session highlights a biblical principle that shaped Dr. King’s life and inspired his leadership during the Civil Rights Movement.
Register Today
Visit www.gbaathens.org or scan the QR code to view the schedule, to order the Share the Dream book and to complete the required registration for the webinar.
