The Season of Advent Trinity Episcopal Church 60 Church Street Asheville, North Carolina 28801
Rearranging our Time for Advent Without being too much of a liturgical curmudgeon, it is worth noting that this is the time of year when the Christian calendar and our secular ones clash most clearly. In our society, our Christian calendars of celebration, contemplation and penance have been warped into seasons of shopping and consumerism without end or break. As soon as one holiday is over, the buying season for the next begins. Now, I love a good gift — given or received — as much as the next person, but as liturgically minded Christians, we shouldn’t overlook how our social and societal calendars dictate and shape our lives. This is the quiet challenge and transformative nature of the Christian calendar in general and the season of Advent in particular. They offer us a chance to resist absolute conformity to the timetables of consumerism, even if it’s just on a Sunday or for a season. It points to something more than just counting down the shopping days until the Big Day. Advent invites us to resist our monetary timetables, the notion that our months are actually billing cycles or that our weeks are meted out in paychecks rather than in meals with our families, memories with our friends, worship with our faith communities. By Grace,
Advent Devotions: The Father’s Love Inspired by the beloved writer and theologian Henri Nouwen, this daily devotion booklet helps us to prepare to receive, share and demonstrate the love of God in our lives. Nouwen, a Catholic priest, was a spiritual icon of the 20th century, and excerpts of his writings serve as the inspiration for original daily reflections and prayers. Pick up a copy of your devotion booklet at the back of the Nave or in the Welcome Center.
Reflecting the Season in our Worship The season of Advent is one of reflection. Therefore you will notice some changes to our Sunday worship. The color of the season is traditionally violet, but there is an English tradition of using blue during Advent. Blue is the color for Mary, the Mother of our Lord, and, in many ways, Advent is Mary’s season. As Mary waits for the birth of her child, so do we. Trinity has blue vestments for this season so we will use blue, along with the blue frontal for the altar. You will notice greens on the altar instead of flowers to reflect the simplicity we seek at this time of year. Likewise our music will be more in line with the reflective nature of the season. We will use pottery vessels for communion along with homemade communion bread. All of these changes will be “lifted” on Christmas Eve for the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity.
Loaves & Fishes Market Dec. 2 and Online At First Presbyterian
One of Trinity’s great traditions, in partnership with First Presbyterian, is the Loaves and Fishes Gift Market. On Dec. 2, swing by First Presbyterian across the street from Trinity. It will be filled with representatives of some of Asheville’s most known and powerful non-profit organizations. You and yours can “shop” for your loved ones, co-workers, neighbors, and others, by making donations to any of these organizations. You will receive a card that you may send to your friends and family letting them know you have made a donation in their honor. This year there will be an option of shopping online. Stay tuned for further information.
Advent Wreath Making and Intergenerational Lesson Dec. 2 Tuton Hall
Join us for this all-ages beloved annual event of making Advent Wreaths. We will start the hour with the Godly Play
lesson on the season of Advent, followed by wreath making. Don’t want a wreath for your own home? No problem. Come make one for us to deliver to our many parishioners living in care facilities who can’t make it to church each week. There is a requested donation of $10 to cover the cost of materials.
Advent Word for Today Dec. 2, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Conference Room Dive into the lessons for the first Sunday of Advent and explore what they mean for this season on the Church’s calendar.
Letters to the Homebound Sundays in December at Trinity
Each year we give everyone the opportunity to write a note to our members who are confined to their home or a healthcare
renovated Austin Organ as a way to make space for beauty and spiritual reflection during this busy season.
Adult Formation Dec. 9-Dec. 23
SHORT STORIES FOR THE SEASON (Conference Room): The reading of each story will happen in class beginning at 9:30 sharp! Stories will include “Night Hawks” (Dec. 9) & “The Ascent” (Dec. 16) by Ron Rash and “The Exchange” (Dec. 23) by Ray Bradbury. LOVE IS THE WAY (Undercroft) Since we are reminded each Advent of the voice in the wilderness calling us to prepare the way for the Lord, we will spend three weeks exploring the Presiding Bishop’s stirring vision laid out in his royal wedding homily heard ’round the world and in his “Love is the Way” rule of life which he released during General Convention. PARENTS IN CONVERSATION: UNREASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AND ADVENT
Clark Room Unreasonable Expectations and Advent: How do you navigate the unending expectations during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Through a few guided activities over these weeks, we’ll examine the unspoken and unexamined expectations during this busy season.
Bishop of Myra Sunday Dec. 9 at 10:45 a.m.
facility. You will find letters (and a space to write your note) to each homebound member on a table in the hallway leading to Tuton Hall. Please stop by and share your Christmas greeting. We want to be sure all members of Trinity know that they remain in our hearts though they are not able to be present. Please contact Chris Dismukes with any questions 277-0388 or chdismukes@gmail.com.
Organ Recitals for Advent at Noon featuring the Church Street Organists Thursdays in December at 12:15 p.m. Trinity Church Nave
Join us on Thursdays in December as the organists from the three churches on Church Street offer brief organ recitals and a space for reflection. Sharon Boone on 12/6 (Trinity), Jeremy Roberts on 12/13 (First Presbyterian) and Corey Powell on 12/20 (Central Methodist), will each play on Trinity’s newly
We expect a visit from a very special bishop on Sunday, Dec. 9 at the 10:45 service. This bishop has traveled halfway around the world to be present with us. Bring all of your young friends and friends of friends to enjoy this annual tradition. Our overall service will be much abbreviated to accommodate our guest. The word “Santa” is a Dutch derivation of the English word for “Saint.” The Dutch word “Klass” as well as the German “Claus” are variants of the name “Nicholas” in those languages: Niklass and Niklaus, respectively. For those who follow Jesus, the story of a man who partakes in random acts of kindness at Christmas is a story of the Saints of God.
Young Adult: 2nd Sundays Lunch Out Dec. 9 at 12:30 p.m. Join our group of young adults and young parents for our monthly lunch out at one of Asheville’s many delightful brewpubs with food trucks. We pick kid-friendly places with delightful food and plenty of space to hang out and chat. Meet in Tuton Hall following the 10:45 a.m. service and we’ll
depart together. We meet on the Second Sunday of every month for either lunch or activity together.
Middle School Advent Party! Dec. 2 at 4:00 p.m.
Join our group of middle school youth for our Advent Party at Missy’s and Scott’s house on Sunday, December 2 from 4:00-6:00 pm. Please RSVP by Friday, November 30 at debbie@trinityasheville.org or 253-9361.
High School Luncheon and make beds for Room in the Inn Dec. 16 at 12:00 p.m.
All high school students are invited to a luncheon and to make beds for Room in the Inn in the youth rooms on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 12:00 -2:30 pm. Please RSVP by Friday, Dec. 14 at debbie@trinityasheville.org or 253-9361.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (during the Sunday School hour)
This is our one and only rehearsal for the 3 pm Christmas Eve children’s pageant. Attendance at this rehearsal is not mandatory but encouraged, EXCEPT for children playing major roles (Mary, Joseph, Wise Men, Lead Angel, Angel carrying the baby.) These people need to be present.
Advent Lessons and Carols Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Trinity’s annual Candlelight Lessons and Carols service will take place on December 9 at 5:30. This traditional service dates back to 1880 when Edward Benson designed it for his cathedral at Truro. That service was modified into the current order of service by Eric Milner-White in 1919 for use in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge. The service was first broadcast in 1928, and with the exception of 1930, it has been broadcast ever since. The backbone of the service is the lessons surrounded and supported by the carols and anthems. The main theme of the lessons is the development of the loving purposes of God throughout history, culminating of course, with the birth of the Christ child. By tradition it begins with the great carol, “Once in Royal David’s City,” and the lessons are read by “officers” of the church as well as invited friends. Trinity’s Chancel Choir will lead the service, and anthems by Nixon, Lloyd, Weidner, Helvey and Willan will be sung. The Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet will accompany congregational hymns. This service will take the
place of our normally scheduled Celtic Eucharist at this hour and nursery care will be provided. A reception will be held in Tuton Hall.
Room in the Inn Dec. 16-23
A signature ministry of Trinity, Room in the Inn provides meals and a safe warm place to stay for 12 women. This is a community-driven, faith-based initiative involving 40 Asheville congregations. It takes an entire community, with many different jobs and tasks for all, to serve these women and make each RITI session a success. This year’s Room in the Inn takes on heightened significance as the women’s time at Trinity happens at a time when our tradition is building toward the story on which the ministry bases its name -- the nativity story from the Gospel of Luke. Sign up in Tuton Hallway to be a part of this ministry and make a difference during this season.
Feast of Lights and Burning of the Greens Sunday, January 6 at 10:45 service
On this day we observe the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6 ). Epiphany is the date on which the Wise Men, or Three Kings are said to have arrived at the manger to worship the Christ child. Nearly fifty percent of the Christian World (Orthodox Christians) keep this day as the celebration of the Feasts of the Nativity rather than Dec. 25. The season of Epiphany is the season when we celebrate the light of Christ shining out into the whole world. At the close of this service, our younger members will help us remember those of the faith who have spread the light of Christ and they will help us carry light out from the church into the courtyard where we will burn the Christmas greens symbolizing an end to the Christmas season.
Reading the Bible Literately (Not Literally): An Epiphany Series Sundays, Jan. 6-March 3
Led by Ed Bleynat and several other Trinitarians, this enlightening series for Epiphany will plumb the depths of Scripture, exploring how genre informs and enriches the story of God in our sacred texts. For example, what happens when we read the story of Saul and David through the lens of tragedy or what do we notice anew when we read the story of Abraham or the Exodus against literature’s great tales of journeys? Join us each week for a fresh look at Scripture.
The Feast of the Nativity Christmas Eve
3:00 pm C hristmas P ageant & H oly E ucharist 5:00 pm C horal P relude with brass quartet, soloists, instrumentalists & the Trinity Choir 5:30 pm H oly E ucharist and B lessing of the C hristmas C reche 10:30 pm Choral Prelude with brass quartet, soloists, instrumentalists & the Trinity Choir 11:00 pm Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Christmas Creche
Christmas Day
10:00 am Holy Eucharist with Carols
Christmas Services In Detail • At the 3 p.m. Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist, the children lead us in the dramatization of the story of Jesus’ birth. The Alleluia and Jubilate Children’s Choirs will be singing. All children of Trinity, their friends and any young visiting family members are welcome to participate in the pageant. All children should be at Trinity by 2:30 p.m. to claim a costume. This service will conclude with Holy Eucharist and it will include the traditional carols of the season. Nursery Care will be provided. • The 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Creche will include a half-hour choral prelude beginning at 5:00 p.m. and is a traditional Christmas service of the Holy Eucharist. Trinity’s Adult choir will lead traditional carols of the season along with a brass quartet, other instrumentalists, and the Trinity Choir. Nursery care will be provided. • The 11:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Creche includes a half-hour choral prelude beginning at 10:30 p.m. featuring a brass quartet, soloists, instrumentalists and the Trinity Choir. Anthems will include “O Saviour so sweet” by Bach, “A sound of Angels” by Tye, “When Christ was born of Mary free” by Archer, and “This Christmas Night” by Williamson. The Holy Eucharist service is a traditional Christmas service. Trinity’s Adult choir will lead traditional carols of the season along with a brass quartet, other instrumentalists, and the Trinity Choir. Nursery care will not be provided. • The quiet of Christmas morning is experienced with deep joy at Trinity. This simple 10:00 a.m. celebration of the Holy Eucharist will include carols. If your schedule allows, and you are “over” the crowds of Christmas Eve, this service may be for you.
