The Music of Advent and Christmas
Advent is a time of waiting, watching, anticipating and preparing for the coming of Jesus. It is a time to rethink one’s priorities; a time to seek God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of friends and family hurtful words and actions; a time to look for the image of Christ in each person we meet; and a time of anticipating God’s surprise in our lives.
Christmas is the culmination of the Advent days, for the season of Christmas celebrates the coming of God into the world in the person of Jesus. Christmas is more than just one day, it is twelve days of experiencing again the reality that God is truly with us in our lives and in the world.
The music of both of these seasons is religious and secular. Some of the music centers on Santa Claus, some on the baby Jesus, some on shepherds or wise ones, some on giving and getting, while some moves into a time of contemplation of the deep meaning of the messages of love, hope, joy and peace. The music is meditative, full of “Alleluias”, lullabies, or even marching drummer boys, as well as the deeper theological understandings of Emmanuel – “God with us.”
This year at Scarritt Bennett Center we will have five concerts featuring the music of Advent and Christmas concerts are in Wightman Chapel from 1:00-1:30 on the days listed below. Parking is available in Lot A or Lot B off of 18th Avenue South. Included on the schedule are the following musicians:
December 12 John Arnn – Jazz pianist
December 14 Karen Renée Robb – Sacred drums and vocalist
December 15 DeWayne Pigg – oboe and Steve Lindsey – piano
December 18 Emmanuel LeGrair – Vocalist
December 19 Connye Florance, vocalist and Kevin Madill – pianist
Take time to come to one or more of these concerts. The music will give special meaning to these seasons and enrich your spiritual journey. Welcome Jesus into your heart once again with joy, peace, love and hope that is so needed in our world.
Joyce D. Sohl, Laywoman-in-Residence
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, quarterly retreats, and art exhibits.