Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Advent

Reflecting on Advent and the Light We Bring 

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by Hendy Matahelemual

This reflection was originally posted on the MC USA Menno Snapshots blog. It is republished with permission from MC USA.  

As I reflect on the season of Advent, I think about what is meaningful for my family and church. We don’t really celebrate Advent as much as I remember when I was a kid. I remember growing up in a Catholic tradition, and during every Sunday Mass during Advent, the pastors would light a candle. There were four candles — one for each of the four weeks before Christmas, representing joy, peace, hope and love. But today, our preparation takes a different form. 

Today, while no physical candle is lit, our hearts and minds are certainly ignited with the spirit of preparation for Christmas. At the beginning of November, our church Christmas committee began working, the choir started their practices early, and the drama ministry came up with a script that aligns with this year’s Christmas theme. This Sunday, we put up our Christmas tree at the church and began decorating. It’s a festive time, in which most of our congregation participates. There are a few weeks ahead with much to prepare, but we are excited. 

We want to provide the best service to God, our congregation, and the guests who attend our Christmas service. It is customary among Indonesian churches to invite guests from other churches to our Christmas event, as well as friends and colleagues who have never been to our church before. In past years, our church attendance during Christmas has typically doubled. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for outreach to unchurched individuals. Many Christians who are not actively connected to a church still feel a strong inclination to attend a Christmas celebration. This season provides a unique chance to engage with them, as the festive atmosphere and message of hope draw them in, creating a meaningful moment to reconnect with faith and community. 

Advent, from the Latin “adventus,” meaning “coming” or “arrival,” is translated from the Greek “parousia” and reflects both Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem and his anticipated Second Coming in glory. 

I often imagine, living in the dark world we face today, that if Jesus were in a plane needing to land, our role would be to light the runway with joy and celebration. We are called to illuminate the path with sacrificial love, burning brightly in our service to others, so that his arrival is met with the warmth and welcome of our hearts. 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

— Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) 

As we prepare for Christmas, Advent reminds us that it’s not just about waiting but actively getting ready in our hearts and communities. Whether through lighting candles or through the work of our church teams, we are called to share Christ’s light in a dark world. This season gives us a special chance to welcome others into the hope, joy and love of Christmas. Let us shine brightly, not only through our preparations but in how we live, as we await Christ’s arrival. May our actions reflect his love and draw others to him during this special time. 

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference. Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher.

Take Heart, It Is Almost the End of Advent Again

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by Stephen Kriss

It is Advent again. We call this time Advent because it reminds us of what comes from God for the creation of his kingdom on earth. We who are here have been led in a special way to keep what is coming on our hearts and to shape ourselves according to it. That which comes from God—that is what moves our hearts, not only in these days but at all times.

Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt

Waiting is part of the human experience. We live in the in-between space, where the reign of God is upon us and not yet, where there is grieving and rejoicing, when things are both lost and found. However, as we see in the Gospel of Mark (this year’s primary lectionary text), there are moments when things are suddenly upon us.  

The Christmas season brings out a level of tenderness in many of us, a time when gift-giving and remembering those less privileged than ourselves is part of the US cultural practice rooted in a Christendom story. It is also a season where we are sometimes the most overtaxed or aware of our lack. The seasonal time of longer nights and less sunlight can make us more acutely aware of all that is not right or well, including ourselves. 

…we practice waiting for light and for Christ’s inbreaking in the midst of long darkness.

As a Mosaic of Christ-followers, a diverse people of God following Christ’s way of peace, we practice waiting for light and for Christ’s inbreaking in the midst of long darkness. We practice pensive waiting more than we might embrace overflowing joy. We know that all is not well in a world where wars wage, injustice dominates, and Herodian leaders call for violence against innocents even now. 

My opening passage excerpt from German theologian Christoph Blumhardt is an invitation to engage with our heart and to respond to the things of our hearts. It reminds me of the Emmaus Road story in Luke 24, the disciples’ post-resurrection encounter with Jesus. The disciples’ hearts warmed while they talked together about all of the difficult things they had experienced, even though they did not recognize Jesus with them. That conversation was not a glossing over the struggle, but a willingness to listen, to validate, to accompany, and eventually, to eat together. There is something within us beyond our head, feet, and hands, deep in our body, that knows the holy from the inside out. 

There is something within us beyond our head, feet, and hands, deep in our body, that knows the holy from the inside out. 

While we wait for Christmas, what does it means to acknowledge all that is fraught, all that we are waiting for, all that is “not yet the reign of God” and yet, still gather and celebrate? We know that wars and rumors of wars rage, we know the personal failures, theological, and political disagreements among us, and we seek to listen and be heard. Even so, we still gather around the table, or a Christmas tree, around a fire or in worship, knowing we are participating in the inbreaking of God–knowing it in our hearts, and enacting it in our bodies, in our communities, and in our relationships. We celebrate this not just now, but always, because we are always waiting, and the reign of God is always breaking through. “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19, NRSV). 

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference.

Personal Advent Resources for Pastors 

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by Jennifer Svetlik

Photo by Max Beck on Unsplash

“As a congregant, I was able to soak in Advent in a special way, but as a pastor, I find it harder to stay focused when it’s my job to ‘make Advent happen,’” admitted Michelle Curtis, Co-Pastor of Ambler (PA) Mennonite. 

Advent can sometimes get so busy for pastors and congregational leaders that personal devotion time can get sidetracked. To support fellow pastors during this time, a few Mosaic pastors share recommendations, reflections, and resources.  

“I enjoy the calm centeredness of the Advent wait,” shared Sandy Drescher-Lehman, Pastor of Methacton (PA) Mennonite Church. “It’s been hard for many people to understand the importance of saving the hymns of Jesus’ birth until the end of the month when the rest of their lives are influenced by Christmas decorations and gift buying for two months before the actual celebration of Jesus’ birth.” 

“I come from a family that was distrustful of anything ‘high church’ and was also anti-ritual,” said Pastor Nathan Good, Pastor of Swamp Mennonite Church (Quakertown, PA). Pastor Nathan explained that his congregation has a strong history of embracing rhythms of the church calendar and has stronger rituals and practices in these areas. “I have come to appreciate these seasons more as a result,” Pastor Nathan reflected.  

“More than simply a liturgical season, Advent is remembering that God is with us, for us, and in us, this is our eternal hope, for Christ’s return in glory,” shared Tomas Ramírez of Iglesia Luz y Vida (Orlando, FL). “Even when we put up lights and exchange gifts as others do in this season, for us who are centered in Christ and his coming, we are focused on hope.” 

Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash

Hendy Matahelemual, Pastor of Indonesian Light Church (Philadelphia, PA) reflected, “Our church is focused on the Jesus story and how we can become more Jesus-centered in our theology and practice. So that’s what Advent means to me … to really understand the work of Christ from the beginning.”  

“In Advent, we wait for God to act and find that God acts through fragile and broken humanity,” shared Nathan Good.  “So even though we feel weak and unable to make a difference, we know and trust that God can use our fragile efforts to transform creation through love.” 

Looking for some personal (or congregational) nourishment this Advent season? Here are a few recommended resources from other Mosaic leaders:  

Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin, SJ. Recommended by Hendy Matahelemual, Indonesian Light Church (Philadelphia, PA). 

Bless the Advent We Actually Have Free Advent Devotional by Kate Bowler, which includes scripture, blessings, reflections, and discussion questions to “make the act of waiting holy.” Recommended by Sue Conrad Howes, West Swamp (Quakertown, PA) 

The Grand Miracle from the Christian History Institute, featuring gorgeous art, scripture, and writings of C.S. Lewis. Recommended by Michelle Curtis, Ambler (PA). 

Sacred Pauses: Spiritual Practices for Personal Renewal by April Yamasaki, this book is helpful for those struggling with an anti-ritual past. Recommended by Nathan Good, Swamp (Quakertown, PA) 

Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado. Recommended by Tomas Ramírez, Iglesia Luz y Vida (Orlando, FL). 

Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens. Recommended by Andrew Zetts, Salford (Harleysville, PA) 

25 Days of Advent Family Devotional, available in six languages, daily verse of scripture telling the Christmas narrative, created by Brooke Martin, Youth and Community Formation Pastor for Mosaic. 

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is a member of the communication team, helping with editing, writing, and content creation. She was born near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in an intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.

This Advent, I’ll Take a Look Across the Street

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By Hendy Matahelemual

Growing up in a Christian family in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, I didn’t often see Christmas decorations. But we always knew where we could find a Christmas display. It was at a car dealership in a corner of the city. The owner must have been Christian.    

Every year at the end of November, my family and I were excited to find out what kind of Christmas exhibit the owner would put up: Santa and his sleigh, a snowman, a nativity scene. Each year was different.  

He also put up colorful lights, so at night it was wonderful to see — sacred and secular Christmas decorations, including symbols of cold weather and snow, in a tropical climate.  

As the years passed, the car dealership moved and there were no more Christmas exhibits on that corner. But the colorful lights and snowmen will stand forever in my Christmas childhood memories.    

Not quite satisfied with a mental picture from memory, I opened up Google Maps to see what that corner of Bandung looks like right now. As I scrolled the surroundings, something came up. I realized that right across the street stands one of the city’s Great Mosques.   

As a child, I never noticed the mosque. It did not matter to me. But now it does.  

As followers of Jesus, we need to change our attitude toward people with different beliefs.   

In his ministry, Jesus interacted with people of diverse backgrounds: Romans who believed in multiple gods, Canaanites who worshiped Baal, Samaritans who worshiped Yahweh at Mount Gerizim rather than at the Temple in Jerusalem.    

Jesus didn’t try to convince people to join his religion. He healed the sick, delivered the demonically oppressed, told people to tell others what God had done for them, praised people for their faith, and announced they would feast in heaven with the prophets.   

Jesus simply loved them, praised the good in them and answered the questions they were asking — sometimes by pointing them toward finding the answers for themselves.   

Mesach Krisetya, an Indonesian Mennonite leader who died earlier this year, said Christian missionaries in Indonesia often posed a conquering strategy. It is common for Christians to feel threatened by Islam and for Muslims to feel offended by former colonial powers, politics, and cultural arrogance. Krisetya urged pluralist sensitivity, aware that neither Muslims nor Christians lose identity through a careful exchange.   

Recently we invited a Jewish rabbi to speak at our Mosaic staff meeting. Her congregation is just two blocks around the corner from my congregation in South Philadelphia.    

We invited her to share her knowledge of chesed, a Hebrew word meaning God’s steadfast love, in light of our fall Assembly. As she explained the love of God and the practice of chesed, I was amazed by her insights on the Old Testament. She invited us to their Shabbat dinner, which I’m very interested to experience.    

During Advent this year, I will try to be aware of my surroundings. I will try to find God in other people and in every corner of my life. I will try to love even when it hurts. I will try to extend grace to everyone, regardless of their actions, beliefs, status, politics or nationality.   

“Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! For great is his steadfast love (chesed) toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 117).  

I believe one thing unites us as humans: God’s constant, steadfast, faithful love.   

Let us show the world that we are Jesus’ followers, not by how many Christmas decorations we put up, but by how much we love strangers as well as friends.  

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Anabaptist World on Nov. 18 and is used here by permission. To read the original article, please click here.  

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference. Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher.

Advent Resource for Families

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Mosaic Conference is again offering this FREE Advent resource for families. If you desire Advent and simplicity, here is a family practice that is centered on Jesus’ birth story.

“My family has participated in this practice for the past two years, and it has become a Christ-centering tradition for us in our home,” shared Brooke Martin, Mosaic Youth and Community Formation Pastor, shared. “We light a candle, marking the days until Christmas, and read the verse cards which build each day, pointing to and celebrating Jesus’ birth narrative. It is simple.”

Please feel free to share the link with your congregation or community.

Dinnertime family devotions include burning the daily Advent candle and reading part of the Christmas Story. Photo by Brooke Martin. 

An Advent Prayer

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by Chris Nickels, Pastor of Spring Mount Mennonite Church

(Originally posted at MennoniteRoad.com; reposted with permission)

Each year my congregation (along with a number of local churches and non-profit organizations) participates in a local witness called the Witting Tree. On a tree in front of the meetinghouse we solemnly hang dog tags to remember and raise awareness that 20+ veterans commit suicide each day. And we recommit to being a compassionate presence for our veteran neighbors and their families, in light of the often unseen burdens of moral injury, traumatic stress, and return from war.

We put the tags up on Veterans Day, and it dawned on me this year that we take them down as the season of Advent begins. The temperature was cold with a slight wind, and each time I removed a metal tag there was a chiming sound as it gently touched the nearest branch. I heard twenty-two chimes as I worked, once again reminding me of twenty-two servicemembers and neighbors who may be struggling.

So I decided to pray through the themes of Advent while I was out at the tree. Hope, peace, joy, and love seemed an appropriate request, as these are longings I have heard as I listened to my veteran friends over the past few years.

If you like, pray with me…

I pray for hope…for those who have lost faith in the promises made to them, and for those who wonder what the next day will bring.

I pray for peace…for a journey home that leads to welcome and healing, and for our nation to break the cycle of endless war.

I pray for moments of joy within the dark nights of the soul. And for friendship and community to share in joyful moments with.

I pray for love…that each one would know that they are loved, both by their Creator and their neighbor, and that we would embody this love in meaningful ways.

Amen.

Rachel’s God-Moment

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An Advent monologue written for use in worship at Methacton Mennonite Church by Marty Kolb-Wykoff.  Members of the congregation have been taking turns sharing their “God-moments” during Sunday worship.  This monologue imagines a special moment many years ago when one woman encountered God in a truly remarkable way.

My God-moment happened a very long time ago.  And while you may not be very familiar with me, you certainly know of my daughter, who figures prominently in my story.  My daughter’s name was Mary, the Mary who gave birth to Jesus.  Yes, that Mary.

It happened when Mary was just a young girl.  Mary was not like lots of other girls; yes, she had friends and she enjoyed playing with them when she wasn’t helping me.  But she also liked to be by herself.  She loved to watch the birds and was good at recognizing them by their songs.  She was also fascinated by flowers, especially wild flowers.  She would go for walks and come home with beautiful bouquets of wild flowers.

It was one afternoon after she had been gone for awhile on one of her walks that she came back pensive and thoughtful.  She said very little during the evening meal.  I could tell she was thinking about something.

After the meal was cleaned up, she asked if I could go outside by her favorite tree; she wanted to tell me what happened that afternoon.

We sat down and the first thing she said was that she had seen and talked with an angel.   I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t, for I could tell this was all very serious to her.  So, I said nothing.

She went on to tell me how she was sitting under a tree, watching a bird build a nest, when she heard a voice say, “You are highly favored; the Lord is with you.”

Mary told me how startled, troubled, and even fearful she felt by this sudden intrusion into her afternoon.  But he assured her that he was an angel from God and she had nothing to fear.

But that was just the beginning; he told her that she would have a baby who would be called the Son of God.  It was to happen through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The story is still not over.  The angel gave Mary a sign; he told her that our relative Elizabeth, an old lady who lives in Judea with her husband Zechariah, is six months pregnant.  He ended the conversation by assuring Mary that with God nothing is impossible.

I had no idea how to respond.  What was one to make of this?  We are just simple folks from Nazareth.  Finally, I said, “Let’s go to bed and we can talk tomorrow.”

In the middle of the night I awoke with a start.  I realized I, too, had just had an angel visitation.  He said to me as clearly as I am talking to you:  With God nothing is impossible.

At that moment I knew in the depths of my being that Mary’s imagination had not gotten the best of her.  What I didn’t know was how our lives were about to be forever changed.