Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, a congregation in the Baptist General Conference, has in recent years begun to place a strong emphasis on observing some seasons of the Christian year. The full traditional year is not observed, however, so that sometimes may be designated for particular attention to concerns such as missions and family life.
Because congregations are independent of any clerical or denominational hierarchy in Baptist polity, this article will describe the state of the Christian year in the worship renewal in one church of the Baptist General Conference rather than attempting to generalize about the entire denomination.
Historically, Baptists have distanced themselves from many liturgical forms, such as following the Christian year, normally associated with mainline denominations. However, in the last decade, Bethlehem Baptist Church has begun to devote attention to certain seasons of the Christian year—Advent, Christmastide, Lent, Eastertide, and Pentecost. The development was largely prompted by the congregation’s (and pastor’s) belief in the importance of preparation for the high days of Christmas and Easter and that a direct correlation exists between the time one invests in preparation and the intensity one experiences in celebration.
Countering Commercialism
The Advent season was a great time to institute the Christian year because our culture does so much to promote the commercial way of preparing for Christmas. Most Christians, therefore, see the need to offset the influence of commercialism and reclaim the spiritual theme of our Lord’s birth. Bethlehem implemented observance of Advent through such means as poems written by the pastor, candles, purple choir stoles, and a large banner. As a result, Advent has become the most beautiful time of the year at the church, and the congregation prepared for more meaningful participation in the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Ceremony of Lessons and Carols—undoubtedly the most beautiful service of the year.
If Advent was a particularly good point at which to introduce the Christian year, Lent was the season during which implementation of the year was most needed. While our culture exerts a lot of influence (however misdirected) to prepare us for Christmas, all that Madison Avenue has to offer for Easter is eggs and rabbits! Thus, the church faces an even greater challenge in cultivating preparation for what is, theologically, the most important day of the year during the Lenten season.
Observance of Lent is marked by the gradual extinguishing of seven Lenten candles, and the use of banners, purple choir stoles, pulpit tapestries, sculpture, music that is meditative and focused on Passion texts, and visual art of the Crucifixion. Through the use of these symbols and media, Lent has become the most reflective and sobering time of the year, preparing the congregation to experience more fully the meaning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday usually involves our children’s choirs with palms and processions. But the exuberance and loudness of Palm Sunday praise soon quiets into the soberness of Maundy Thursday Communion, undoubtedly the most solemn service of the year. The sanctuary is darkly lit, the choir wears no colored stoles. After a silent processional, the music is very meditative and somber. Communion is received in complete silence, the last Lenten candle is extinguished, and all worshipers are asked to leave the sanctuary in silence to ponder all that they have heard and experienced.
Then, on Easter Sunday, we are ready to celebrate all day long, with all of our might. Eastertide has begun! The Easter morning celebrations include choir, brass, and congregational singing of the joyful music of Easter. The sanctuary resounds with the Easter greeting “The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!” Banners and pulpit tapestries are hung, choir stoles are white, and all of the Lenten candles are lit, signifying that Christ defeated death and lives forever! We then conclude this day of days by gathering back at the church in the evening for the Festival of the Resurrection. The most important event in all of history calls for the most glorious of all celebrations—and that is what the Festival of the Resurrection is intended to be. On this night, we try to “pull out all the stops” in celebration of Christ’s triumph over death. The service is led by a 100-voice festival choir with brass and includes a lot of congregational participation in songs, litanies, and shouts of praise.
Pentecost Parade
The candles remain lit throughout Eastertide and are on display through Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost marks the end of our church’s observance of the Christian year. We try to make this day special by doing something bold. Most recently, we have marched through downtown Minneapolis using one of Graham Kendrick’s Praise Processions. Huge colorful banners are carried, music is sung, leaflets are distributed, and the joy of the Lord is seen and experienced in our neighborhood—all in the power and spirit of Pentecost. We conclude the event by gathering in a local park for a picnic with those from the neighborhood who have joined us in the parade.
At this point, it seems unlikely that we will broaden our observances of the Christian year to other seasons or days of the Christian year in the near future. With the partial observance of the Christian year, there is still enough flexibility in the calendar for another emphasis we have throughout the year, such as Prayer Week, Family Week, and Missions Week. This approach makes for a balance appropriate for our congregation.