Advent Family Celebration

Although the winter evening was dark outside, we gathered in the glow of St. Joan’s to celebrate the light of Advent. The annual Advent Family Celebration drew at least 100 participants of all ages while maintaining the feel of a warm family reunion. The November 28 celebration started at 6 pm with a potluck in Hospitality Hall. “The potluck got the kids interested,” remarked Linda Stuart, who teaches the 9 am Polar Bear class. We discussed how coming together to share food was so important. “I’m happy that there’s an event that prompted a discussion about Advent on the way here. There’s always such a good mix of liturgy and activities.”

Families could linger over the food, but there were also a variety of stations set up in different rooms. At one, scissors clipped rapidly making Mexican tin ornaments. In another room, David Zander hosted story-telling sessions. In between sets, he took time to talk to me about several of the Swedish items he had brought with him. Soon, David had an audience clamoring for a story.

Upstairs, the church was darkened. The narrators, including Julie Madden Richard Dodson, and Patrick Dewane, took the stage reminding us, “We are waiting, but we are not alone.”

Ed Hengemuehler played the role of a Magi explaining that although many believe the Wise Men, “just followed the star. . .it wasn’t an easy trip. There were desert storms, bandits and Herod, the evil king.” He talked about the indignity of “three old sages being paraded in front of court like common criminals.” Fortunately for the Magi, he added, the light of the star wasn’t visible to Herod.

Fatima, the Innkeeper Extraordinaire, was played by Julie Madden. She freely acknowledged that the Census was “great for business.” Fatima’s soliloquy moved from her self-absorption and disgust at the dishevelment of Joseph to her transformation by the experience of having seen Mary. “There was a light coming from her,” she said. “And in that light you could see a different world. . . .Their child left me in his light.”

Kristin Aitcheson portrayed the donkey carrying Mary to Bethlehem. She spoke of the jackals close by at night and how Mary’s kindness kept them all safe. The donkey was also expecting her first born. In the same stable, she also gave birth and talked about how she and Mary “rested from our labors under the glow.”

This performance, written by Gabrielle Dane, was stunning in its realistic details, like the innkeeper being repulsed by Joseph having bugs in his beard. The music was also wonderful and paired perfectly with the action on the stage.

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Kari Fisher and her three children have been members of St. Joan’s since 2005. An English teacher at Normandale Community College, she also teaches fourth grade Sunday School at the 11 am service. In the spring of 2007, she joined the Catholic Church through the RCIA process here. She was also a Catholic Worker for five years.

Once the characters had left, Richard Dodson asked the audience about unexpected gifts. “Jesus is the ultimate unexpected gift.” He talked about how each character had an unexpected gift. “By acting with love, by working for peace and justice,” he said, “We can make the miraculous happen with our own hands.” With that, he brought out a white dove, her wings flapping, reflecting the light in the room.