Doors

Yesterday was St. Nikolaus day and I awoke to a variety of goodies that had been carefully arranged outside my door: Clementines, Lebkuchen, Milka Chocolate Balls, Marzipan pieces, and a Burning Candle. Way back in the day Nikolaus was known for leaving secret gifts for the poor and his legacy continues here in these parts as traditionally children leave a shoe outside their door the night of the 5th and during the night St. Nikolaus comes to visit, filling the shoe with goodies. His legacy also continues in the states as our very own Santa Clause evolved from this tradition. Following the reformation, in protestant churches St. Nikolaus was no longer celebrated, rather the Christchild would visit on Christmas eve... and somewhere down the line this Christchild evolved into Santa Clause and was suited up in Coca Cola red with his fat belly and trademark white beard who needs no front door as down the Chimney St. Nicholas comes with a bound.

Yesterday was also my day to host the advents calender, a sweet German tradition counting down the days until Christmas. I can remember as a kid we would participate in the tradition, getting a chocolate filled advents calender. Each day we would look for the date, opening the door to see what sort of chocolate awaited us. Here in Göttingen the old town house is also decorated to resemble an advents calender and each day a window lights up marking one day closer to Christmas day. Here in the stift we are hosting a "live" advents calender of sorts. We have each agreed to host a day, opening our doors providing hospitality, community, and devotion as our own way of celebrating this season, waiting and preparing for Christ's birth.

In my first semester at seminary I took a course in church liturgy in which our end project was to plan an advent chapel service. I was to help in the planning of a Los Posadas service, another tradition in which doors are of great significance. In Mexico, nine days before Christmas, the community re-enacts the story of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter. Each night they travel to different houses, knocking on the doors of the owners, singing traditional Los Posadas songs asking for a place to stay- only to be given the response that there is no room. On to the next house they go until at the last house they are welcomed and a party ensues, complete with a pinata for the kids.

I find these doors during this season to be important, aiding in our anticipation of the season, bringing surprises, being a place of welcome and hospitality, a place of community and celebration. The closed doors of the Los Posadas tradition raises questions of where do we continue to deny shelter and hospitality to those within our midst, where is it that our doors, are still closed? There are doors that I too stand in front of, hoping for a welcoming invitation and yet they remain closed or are only partially opened. This Los Posadas re-enactment leaves us with the hope that these doors will eventually be wide opened...

It is almost time for me to go and find the door in which this evenings advents calender is hosted. We will for sure start with the beloved Advent song, Macht Hoch die Tür, (Fling the door wide open) which has also become our lunchtime grace during this season. I find it much better in the German, but the following translation by Catherine Winkworth is also well done.

1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!

Behold, the King of Glory waits;

The King of kings is drawing near,

The Savior of the world is here.

Life and salvation He doth bring,

Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:

We praise Thee, Father, now, Creator, wise art Thou!

2. A Helper just He comes to thee,

His chariot is humility,

His kingly crown is holiness,

His scepter, pity in distress,

The end of all our woe He brings;

Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:

We praise Thee, Savior, now,

Mighty in deed art Thou!

3. O blest the land, the city blest,

Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!

O happy hearts and happy homes

To whom this King in triumph comes!

The cloudless Sun of joy He is,

Who bringeth pure delight and bliss.

We praise Thee, Spirit, now,

Our Comforter art Thou!

4. Fling wide the portals of your heart;

Make it a temple set apart

From earthly use for Heaven's employ,

Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

So shall your Sovereign enter in

And new and nobler life begin.

To Thee, O God, be praise

For word and deed and grace!

5. Redeemer, come! I open wide

My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!

Let me Thy inner presence feel,

Thy grace and love in me reveal;

Thy Holy Spirit guide us on

Until our glorious goal is won.

Eternal praise and fame

We offer to Thy name.