Every December thousands of people flock to hear orchestras and choirs perform Handel’s Messiah. These performances are extremely popular, often sold-out.
And when you think about it—the popularity is a little bit surprising. I mean, Messiah is Scripture set to music. And if you’ve ever heard portions of (or even the full length) Messiah you might have noticed that it’s a musical journey through the liturgical year, where Jesus Christ is very clearly proclaimed as the Son of God, sent into the world to redeem, to be (you guessed it), our Messiah.
So what’s going on here? Why do typical Americans, sometimes thought to be hostile to or disinterested in Christianity, continue to experience Handel’s Messiah, year after year? Why do normally individualistic Americans rise near the end of the performance to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” as if those sitting around them in the concert hall were their familiar friends?
The answers to these questions point to some of our deepest longings as human beings. We seek symbols, colors, and sounds that connect us to memories we treasure. Although we live in a digital world that sometimes seems increasingly impersonal, we actually do (on some level) enjoy community, and want to have shared experiences with those around us.
And this can be a clue for us as evangelizers. Sometimes evangelization is through actions that attract questions. Sometimes it’s through clear proclamation of the Gospel or apologetics. And sometimes we can reach out by creating an irresistible environment, an experience that connects to the longing and desires of those around us. The typical Christmas season for most Americans is ripe with opportunities to draw people in by tapping into our desires for familiar songs, colors, foods, and community.
One example that builds on our cultural affinity for music this time of year is the Christmas Carol Festival evangelization initiative in New Jersey. Developed in the Diocese of Trenton, a Christmas Carol Festival (CCF) event:
- Is held between Thanksgiving and Christmas (because the unchurched aren’t celebrating Advent)
- Lasts about 45 to 90 minutes
- Centers around singing Christmas carols (the religious type, not the “Grandma Got Runover By a Reindeer” type)
- Is hosted in a non-liturgical space [aka not intimidating or uncomfortable for those we’re trying to reach]
- Includes two or three short witness talks (where people share ways Jesus has come alive for them), prayers before the empty manger, and reading of Christmas Scriptures from Luke or Matthew. (Read more here…)
The enduring appeal of Handel’s Messiah and the success of Christmas Carol Festivals in many dioceses and parishes across the country reveal that as a society we do still have a longing for traditions, community, and cultural events that connect us to something more, something transcendent. There is a beauty in the transcendent that can sometimes be hard to find in our world. Creative ways to offer people the opportunity to experience familiar traditions, cultural or civic events, music, art, and more can be an important part of any evangelization or outreach effort.
Copyright © 2013, Colleen Vermeulen
photo credit: BBC Radio 3 via photopin cc
Colleen Vermeulen
Colleen Reiss Vermeulen, M.Div., M.N.A., blogs, ministers in parish life and lay/deacon formation, and serves as a U.S. Army Reserve officer. She and her husband, Luke, have been married since 2011 and live in Ypsilanti, MI with their two young sons.
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