Things We Celebrate

“But remember the Lord, your God.”  Deuteronomy 8:18

Sunday

While it might sound rather regular, Sundays are the most important thing that we celebrate.  They are a regular time for us to gather together and remember who we are and whose we are.  It is a time for us to press pause on the business and noise of life, quiet our spirits and listen for God’s voice and pay attention for God’s presence.  It is a regular reminder that none of us are alone.  They are a time and place for us to reset our life compass towards the things that really matter – the things that are good, beautiful, and true.

Our Christian Calendar

Many Christians celebrate the same holidays. These special days / seasons make up the “Christian calendar. At Edgewood we celebrate some you will recognize, but we add in some different ones as well. Holidays set a rhythm to the year and allow us to remember how life is changing and staying the same.

Holidays also orient us around our values and priorities. At Edgewood, remembering God’s faithfulness is important to us, so we make a big deal out of celebrating these special days.

Over time we hope the themes we celebrate will be cultivated in our lives, our community and God’s world. 

Lighten-ing

We have adapted a Jewish tradition called Tashlich, which means "to cast." Centered on Forgiveness and repentance. We use sky lanterns to Symbolically lift up our regrets to God and watch them float away. It is a way of starting the year with a clean slate, allowing our souls to feel lighter.

Good Friday

Friday before Easter Sunday and is the 2nd most holy day of the Christian year, the crucifixion and death of Jesus.  From 7am-7pm the church is open and set up for prayer and meditation. At 6:30 pm we read the story of Jesus death. Then all lights are extinguished in the church. We invite you to keep your homes in darkness until Easter Sunday morning.

Other Thanksgiving

Originally an American holiday that we adapted to our Christian year.  Sunday before Thanksgiving we invite our friends and neighbors to share with us in a big potluck lunch. Together we give thanks to God. Mirroring Jesus' vision of the Great Banquet - when all people from every nation, ethnic group, and background share a feast together of love and joy.

Lent & Ash Wednesday

A special season in the Christian year beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter.  Lent is a space to grieve for what we should have done, but didn't do. Lent is about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that holds us back from being completely open to God. Lent is an invitation to die to self...so that we can begin really living.  

Easter

This is the holiest day of the Christian year.  On Easter  Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and God’s coming to rescue broken people living in a broken world.  We celebrate the light and life that has come, the hope that is here, the belief that all things will end in joy and gladness, and that sin and death do not get the last word in our lives.

Advent

Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The season of Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas.  It is the time of year that we celebrate God coming among us in Jesus Christ and that God's coming again soon to bring an end to evil, injustice, and sorrow in our world.  It is a season of great hope, joy, and anticipation.

Passover Seder

Celebrated on the Thursday before Easter, this ritual meal reminds us of how God has rescued us in the past, how God has and is rescuing us through Jesus, and of the hope and promise we have of the Dream of God becoming completely true.

Sukkot Camping

A Fall celebrated during the Jewish festival of Sukkot.  We pitch tents, light a fire, cook hotdogs and s'mores. We retell both ancient and recent stories of how we have experienced God's faithfulness during the hard times - all on the front lawn of the church.  It is a beautiful tradition of hope, joy, and gratitude.

Christmas Eve

We celebrate Christmas Eve singing Christmas carols, drinking cider and hot chocolate, eating cookies, and writing notes of God's love to people we have had a hard time loving.  Sometimes people we love hurt us. Sometimes strangers. Christmas Eve is a time for us to live into the goodness of God and the hope that God really does love all of us and we can love each other.

Community Christmas Feast

Each Christmas Day, we open our doors for a Christmas feast in which we welcome people from our neighborhood who would otherwise be alone or hungry on this special day - there are so many reasons why people are alone on Christmas. This is a day in which we remember that God loves us, delights in us, and will do anything for our good.  This meal is made possible by the generous help of our neighbors who help by dropping off covered dishes, beverages, paper plates/cups, or even sticking around to help serve and clean up!