On the church calendar, we are now in the midst of the season of Advent; a season of expectation and anticipation as we ponder the birth of the Christ child. Essentially, it serves as a reminder to us to slow down and take stock in our preparations for Christmas — everything opposite of what the commercial world would have us do. But if we slow down enough to take notice, we will see and hear the message of new life in signs all around us.
Something like this happened in our own family 21 years ago. Jacob, our oldest son, was not exactly eager to come into the world. Already two weeks late and there were still no signs of labor with my wife, Heide. Doctors decided it was time to take action, so we made an appointment to have a baby. At 6 a.m., the process was begun. By mid-afternoon, there was no progress. At 6 p.m., contractions became a little more regular. Finally at 9 p.m., things were really going well and the doctor told Heide to push.
Meanwhile, across town, the large steeple clock at Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ, where I was serving as associate pastor, struck nine times at 9 o’clock. And then kept ringing, and ringing and ringing. It didn’t take but a few minutes before the neighbors began to get annoyed. They banged on the church door, but of course no one was there. The bell kept ringing. The neighbors began making phone calls to 911 complaining about the awful noise of the bells ringing continuously. The police finally got in touch with one of our custodians who hurried to the church.
The clock in the steeple runs just like a giant grandfather clock, there are huge weights that hang on chains that drive the clockworks up in the steeple. By the time the custodian climbed the 80 steps to the clock the weights hit the floor and the bell finally stopped ringing at 9:34 p.m. Back at the hospital, Jacob was born into this world at exactly 9:34 p.m.
The next day, the local newspaper would report, “a pin controlling the hour bell was replaced on Tuesday morning and at last report, the church clock, along with father, mother and baby are doing just fine.”
The journey through Advent is filled with signs and messages if only we are aware of them. Some might be subtle, others ring out loud. We meet characters like John the Baptist who was not exactly pleasant to behold. He came out of the wilderness proclaiming a message of repentance saying, “The kingdom of heaven has come near!” But there were many who, like the annoyed neighbors bothered by the racket, ignored him. John called them the “brood of vipers.” Maybe they didn’t like his message, more likely they were just too busy or burdened to care.
The bells at St. John’s UCC and several others around town ring out each Sunday morning. They are especially clear in the crisp, cold air of this winter and Advent season. They beckon us to worship just as they beckon us to prepare for the birth of our Savior.
So, as we are making sure all the decorations are in place, as we scurry to shorten the gift lists and make all the various appointments, as stresses of the season mount, remember to be attentive. See the signs. Hear the message. Listen for the Good News of Christ born to us as it rings out again and again.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Todd Hackman is senior pastor at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Monroe.
