| Dare to tell the old, old story in creative ways at Advent  by Lauren Lay The season of Advent the four Sundays before Christmas is pregnant with possibility for the worshipping community. Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. As we recall the incredible story of the humble beginnings of our Lord and Savior, we prepare our hearts to receive the good news as if for the very first time. The cry heard in Isaiah and John to prepare the way of the Lord is as relevant today as it was when the biblical texts were originally penned. In the cultural wilderness in which we reside, the church can play an incredible role in breathing new life into ancient texts. The arts offer life-breathing potential when it comes to worship. Regardless of the art form, when used in worship, the arts serve to present, interpret or highlight a particular biblical or seasonal theme. The arts in worship serve a distinct purpose. During the Advent and Christmas seasons, I encourage you to be daring in your approach to worship. The danger is that we are so familiar with the story that we forget to take a new approach. Take wonderful risks that deepen the meaning of the season by including several of the arts in your services. Be intentional about your choices. Carefully study the biblical texts of the whole season and determine what would best tell the story. Consider all of the elements of each service to maintain balance with the whole of the service. The Word made visible implies that we do our best to insure that the message will come through loud and clear or silent as the night. The impact of the whole depends on the integrity of the parts. Seeing the Word involves being intentional about how and when we incorporate the arts into each service. Can the Word best be expressed through an ancient hymn sung a cappella, or a modern cantata in mixed voices with full orchestral accompaniment? Can the Word best be expressed through a liturgical dance that builds in intensity to breathtakingly reveal Marys soul magnifying the Lord? Can the Word best be expressed by a poem spoken aloud while the organist or keyboardist improvises along with the movement of the poem or plays a classical selection or a hymn reflective of the season and the mood of the poem? Can the Word best be expressed by a costumed and rehearsed pageant performed by the talented actors of the congregation and community, or an impromptu heres your prop instant Nativity shared by the children? Can the Word best be expressed by creating a banner with a series of blocks that portray the biblical theme of each week from the beginning of Advent through Epiphany, or through a set of processional banners that accompany the lighting of the advent candles? Can the Word best be expressed by projecting images created by ancient and modern masters, or by the children of the church that take us from initial angel visitation to the silence of the night following the anthem of the angel choir? The answer is yes to all of the above questions. The impact of the Word made flesh can be intensified when it is brought to life anew through the arts. Those who love the arts are hungry to be tapped as a resource. The work of worship is the work of the people. There are people in the pews, and in many a pulpit, who can add their particular artistic vision to the offering of worship. May your church be bold as it seeks to express the Word this season and every season. May you be richly blessed by deepening your faith expression through the arts. The Rev. Lauren Heather Lay is pastor of Shiloh UMC in Hagerstown, and a doctor of ministry student at Wesley Theological Seminary. | 
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