The Glowstick of Christ
Or "This Little Light of Mine"
So after a relaxing walk through Chagrin Falls, Matt and I went to church for Christmas Eve. We arrived a little early, and saw parishoners from the 9:30 service leaving. Some of the teenagers had glowsticks. Matt gave me a puzzled look, and I figured there must've been some sort of special teen thing for the service. As we entered the sanctuary, we were handed bulletins, and GLOWSTICKS. The bulletin explained that the glowsticks were replacing the traditional candles used for Christmas Eve due to concern regarding children and fire, and wax dripping in the sanctuary (this church building is only 2 years old). The minister's sermon was definitely not what I wanted from a Christmas Eve message. Not only was it dripping in philosophy and doctrine, but it was very difficult to follow. No Christmas Eve homily should use the words "metaphysical" and "philosophical", particularly not in the same sentence. The message was supposed to be about how the Methodist sect of the Christian faith is "radically inclusive", and how that was somehow linked with the question "do people who do not believe in Jesus Christ and God get into heaven?". Per the minister, Jesus is the way to the Father, but he is not the only path to heaven. But believing in Jesus is the only way to get to God, who is in heaven. Confused? Yeah, so were we. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed that this was the first encounter Matt had with an example of my faith coming from my church. Based on that statement, I'm sure you can derive that I do not believe that faith in Jesus and the Christian image of God is the only way to heaven. I have remained a Methodist even after childhood direction because of the church's teachings on tolerance, acceptance of others with different beliefs, backgrounds, and lifestyles, and love towards not only God, but the earth we were placed on, and one another. I don't feel that Saturday night's message was a good example of this doctrine I've attempted to follow (albeit not always successfully).
Anyway, back to the Glowstick of Christ.
So, the homily is over, communion has been served, it's time to sing a few more hymns before heading home. But first, we have to shine the light of God upon our faces! So, the ministers cracked one anothers glowsticks, and then came down the center aisle to crack those of parishoners. You cracked the glowstick of your neighbor. Wow, just like passing the light from the Christ candle! I was appauled by how tacky this was. I can certainly understand concern about small children holding open fire. That's fine; so you give the glowsticks to the little ones so they feel included, and you give the candles to the grown-ups. With those big plastic cups to keep the wax from dripping. ::sigh:: In the words of Charlie Brown, "good grief."
Surprisingly enough, my Glowstick of Christ is still glowing. If it goes another day, I'm going to approach the Global Conference of the United Methodist Church about declaring a Christian Hanukkah.
So after a relaxing walk through Chagrin Falls, Matt and I went to church for Christmas Eve. We arrived a little early, and saw parishoners from the 9:30 service leaving. Some of the teenagers had glowsticks. Matt gave me a puzzled look, and I figured there must've been some sort of special teen thing for the service. As we entered the sanctuary, we were handed bulletins, and GLOWSTICKS. The bulletin explained that the glowsticks were replacing the traditional candles used for Christmas Eve due to concern regarding children and fire, and wax dripping in the sanctuary (this church building is only 2 years old). The minister's sermon was definitely not what I wanted from a Christmas Eve message. Not only was it dripping in philosophy and doctrine, but it was very difficult to follow. No Christmas Eve homily should use the words "metaphysical" and "philosophical", particularly not in the same sentence. The message was supposed to be about how the Methodist sect of the Christian faith is "radically inclusive", and how that was somehow linked with the question "do people who do not believe in Jesus Christ and God get into heaven?". Per the minister, Jesus is the way to the Father, but he is not the only path to heaven. But believing in Jesus is the only way to get to God, who is in heaven. Confused? Yeah, so were we. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed that this was the first encounter Matt had with an example of my faith coming from my church. Based on that statement, I'm sure you can derive that I do not believe that faith in Jesus and the Christian image of God is the only way to heaven. I have remained a Methodist even after childhood direction because of the church's teachings on tolerance, acceptance of others with different beliefs, backgrounds, and lifestyles, and love towards not only God, but the earth we were placed on, and one another. I don't feel that Saturday night's message was a good example of this doctrine I've attempted to follow (albeit not always successfully).
Anyway, back to the Glowstick of Christ.
So, the homily is over, communion has been served, it's time to sing a few more hymns before heading home. But first, we have to shine the light of God upon our faces! So, the ministers cracked one anothers glowsticks, and then came down the center aisle to crack those of parishoners. You cracked the glowstick of your neighbor. Wow, just like passing the light from the Christ candle! I was appauled by how tacky this was. I can certainly understand concern about small children holding open fire. That's fine; so you give the glowsticks to the little ones so they feel included, and you give the candles to the grown-ups. With those big plastic cups to keep the wax from dripping. ::sigh:: In the words of Charlie Brown, "good grief."
Surprisingly enough, my Glowstick of Christ is still glowing. If it goes another day, I'm going to approach the Global Conference of the United Methodist Church about declaring a Christian Hanukkah.
posted by Becki | 3:29 PM
2 Comments:
LOL--God's throwing a rave and you're invited! I get the general idea behind the glowsticks, after all, a bunch of small children holding lit candles reminds me of growing up in the 80s, but I think you're right, there's something amazing and wonderful about everyone in a church holding a lighted candle while singing a hymn that a bunch of glowsticks just can't touch. Merry Christmas anyway, Becki!
Reminds me of the church I went to that served goldfish crackers instead of bread during communion. I get the fish being a Christian symbol and all, but... I don't know, the smiling little fishy face... all I could think of was chicken noodle soup... it just seemed odd.
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