Monica Napoli Warren

When the Extraordinary Invades the Ordinary Monica Napoli Warren

Advent is a time of waiting with great expectation. The season rides the waves of traditional sights and sounds, including a retelling of the Christmas story. You know the story...the angel choir led by Gabriel, some shepherds and their flocks, three wise men with camels, Mary (carrying baby Jesus) and Joseph and a donkey, and maybe some Bethlehemites and an innkeeper. Although we know that the Christmas story remains essential to the Gospel, rarely does a retelling evoke the awe-struck astonishment it deserves. Has familiarity robbed us of the miraculous wonder of it all? Are there treasures nestled into the story that have somehow been missed? Is there a way to recapture the unfolding mystery without jumping to baby Jesus in a manger? The events surrounding Jesus' conception and birth consist of both the extraordinary and the very ordinary, and they reveal much about the heart, intention, and ways of God. This Advent, join Monica as she combines her love for Jesus and passion for teaching with her education in theology enter theater background. Together, we will visit the Christmas narrative through fresh lenses and with open hearts. Because of the familiarity of the story, we will move slowly, at times stopping to appreciate and soak in the more obscure details. We will also attempt to bridge the gap created by time and culture, building a set that looks like first century Palestine and seeking to comprehend the mindset of a people longing for liberation but living under oppressive Roman rule. Do not allow familiarity to rob you of fascination. Set what you know aside. Linger in each scene that Scripture paints as the details unravel one at a time. Let the characters come alive; put yourself in their shoes. Stand in awe as ordinary people accept God's invitation to be part of his extraordinary plans. Watch as centuries of promises begin to appear on history's stage in extraordinary ways in the most ordinary places and people. Listen to the story, again, as if for the very first time.