Week 3: The practice of Celebration

SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE SOUL

“The practice of Celebration”

Easter – this is a season where we should be celebrating what is true, what is steadfast, and what is promised (even in the midst of pandemic; maybe especially in the midst of pandemic). For those who were with us last summer, you might remember that we spent the summer exploring the practice of ‘celebration’, and we looked to the Psalms to help lead us. Today we want to encourage you to consider practicing celebration, in light of Easter, as an ongoing act of worship, and as part of your journey as a disciple of Jesus.
 

1. What is celebration?

  • As you may recall, biblical celebration isn’t about always putting on a happy face:

    • Biblical celebration is acknowledging something significant and worthy by stopping from our usual rhythms to appreciate it together; it’s about stopping together to acknowledge the One who is worthy of our attention.

    • Ultimately, it’s about seeing rightly, truthfully and having the right perspective. Sometimes that erupts in dancing and laughing, and sometimes that overflows into deep, weighty tears.

  2. How do we celebrate?

  • Sometimes we confuse celebration for a party with lots of people (which obviously would not be a great idea right now). Celebration and party are not synonymous. But there is something about the elements of a party that could help us understand the practice of celebration.

    • We can use our bodies in celebration. Dance, sing, shout to the LORD, raise your hands in praise. Celebration is stopping from our normal everyday rhythms and marking what is significant with significant action. What is out of the ordinary for you to do unless something causes you to celebrate? What would it look like to practice that for the joy of Easter?

    • We join with others in celebration. Reach out to someone who helps you to see the world in the right perspective. Ask them: what in their world is worth celebrating?

    • Make a big deal about God. One of my favorite Lenten practices each year is fasting from having big to-do meals throughout the week so that each Sunday we can break that fast with a celebration meal. What could you do to make a big deal about who Jesus is and what He has done in your life today?

  • But celebration is also much more than a party. Sometimes our celebration involves tears.  It could involve being broken because what we see around us is something that we know “breaks” God’s heart. 

    • These tears aren't tears of hopelessness. We have hope. We have the ultimate hope that God will one day "make all things new". So celebration could look like stopping to focus on God's long term plan and promises. 

3. So, where do we start?

  • Starting with prayer is never a bad idea. We need God to help us to get the right perspective on our world. Consider how does God see the current situation? What does seeing the world (and the COVID-19 pandemic) from God’s eyes look like? We need God for this.

  • Listen for an answer. Maybe that means silence, maybe that means reading His constant answer in His Word.

  • Practice gratitude. Consider what gifts God has blessed you with, even in the midst of the current turmoil. Sometimes gratitude takes hard work; sometimes it’s easier. But, it will never happen unless we take time to practice it.

May we be a church that practices celebration as a means of gaining right perspective and ultimately worshipping God!

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