Moderator: Dave Roberts
Chris wrote:How does your church choose the families that will light the advent candles? In the past 50 years, I have been a member of 4 different Baptist churches. I have never been asked to light a candle during Advent. Currently, my wife does not attend the church I attend, which may be why I am not considered. Even when we did attend the same church, we were never asked. I have a feeling that the families that put the most money in the plates are the ones that are so honored. Let me know if your church has another way of picking the candle lighters. If the Youth Minister is preaching on a particular December Sunday, does a "youth" light the candle? {I dont have a problem with that, I just thought I'd mention it}.
Robin Knauerhase wrote:I'm a couple of churches I've been in, the temptation is to have "perfect" families (handsome dad, beautiful mom, one boy & one girl decked out in Sunday finest). To counter that, we've focused on single people, Grandma+grandkids, etc. Indeed, if you're particularly celebratory of all God's children, have a same-sex couple or that cute committed but unmarried couple, etc.
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One year, we had a homeless (but member & regular attender) guy do it. Only a few objected to that, which IMHO was useful to learn all by itself.In response to which I wrote:Did they offer grounds for their objections?
Not specifically, just (not quoting either) the general "do we want to show that" and "why didn't he dress up and take a shower". Even in Portland, there is a set of people who don't even want to see homelessness.
Mona Eby Chicks wrote:I've been in churches my whole life and have never had any member of my family asked to do Advent candles. As a child it was probably because we were the pastor's family. As an adult I've had my son "forgotten"/left out even when all the other kids were given something to do. And we were some of the bigger givers in that church.
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Current church tries to mix ethnicities and genders between the weeks. But there are only four weeks of advent each year.
Robin Knauerhase wrote:Selecting big donors without any other reason feels particularly anti-Baptist-equality to me, and a poor example of Christmas to boot.
M Christopher Boyer wrote:Pretty much my whim of the week.
Judy Gay wrote: I have no idea who gives what so that is not a criteria. I used to select the youth but they are now adults. Today I selected Kathy to bring some light to the darkness of her season this year. Who will I select next week - don't know yet.
Sarah Ruth Welton wrote: When we have had children or youth In our services we ask them if they want to participate. Right now we only have older folks in attendance.
Paul Schneider wrote: This is actually something I’ve been thinking about. These responses help me.
Jean Heidal wrote: As a lay person, I asked if I could choose the readings and recruit the Advent Candle lighters. Today a mother and daughter lit the candles. Next week a brother and sister who are young adults. I have asked another brother and sister (college students) to light on Christmas Eve Morning and also, two older couples will light candles. I try to mix-it-up and ask people who might not normally be asked to participate. FBC, Olympia
Chris wrote:I think random is appropriate.
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