Local clergy keep people focused on faith

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Kristyne E. Demske Michele Brazier of Sterling Heights, Renee Biga of Warren and Catalina Garibay of St. Clair Shores play angels watching over Mary, played by 16-year-old Julie Patuna of St. Clair Shores, during an Advent choral meditation at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Community Dec. 11. Photo by Kristyne E. Demske Michele Brazier of Sterling Heights, Renee Biga of Warren and Catalina Garibay of St. Clair Shores play angels watching over Mary, played by 16-year-old Julie Patuna of St. Clair Shores, during an Advent choral meditation at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Community Dec. 11.

Sales fliers proclaim weekly that now is the time for the “lowest prices of the season.”

Inflatable reindeer, snow globes and Santa on a motorcycle seem to beckon from every front lawn.

Everywhere, it seems, there’s another advertisement, message or broadcast imploring shoppers to stop on by and find that perfect gift.

It’s enough, sometimes, to make anyone turn into the Grinch, glowering from the top of snowy Mount Crumpit.

But there is a respite.

Clergy across metro Detroit say they work hard this time each year to pull people back from the commercial and secular nature of the holidays and move them toward the true meaning — peace, joy and waiting for something special to come.

The Rev. Jim Bjorum, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Community in St. Clair Shores, pledged around Halloween to make “the church a safe haven from all the noise and all the hubbub that goes on. One can come into the church and find a place of quiet.”

His church halls are not decked with holly, poinsettias or holiday lights until Christmas actually arrives. The lights are strung on the towering evergreens outside, but are not turned on till Christmas Eve.

“One of the things that I try to encourage is for us to focus this as Advent and not as all this pre-Christmas stuff that starts in October,” he said. “The decoration of the church, the music of the church, it’s focused on Advent. It’s helping us prepare and anticipate what’s going to happen on the 25th of December.”

Pastor Jon Trinklein of Shepherd’s Gate Church in Shelby Township said they are focusing now on “peacemaking. How you can have peace in your relationships and peace through Christ.”

He said they encourage families to set aside Christmas Eve as a time to take a break and come to church and hear the good news. They also collected a couple of hundred gifts for needy families through Samaritan House, which Trinklein said is a good way to teach giving to others.

“It was just awesome because on Sunday, we put all of those gifts up front (and it was) just so neat to think that there’s going to be a child, or an adult as well, who’s going to receive this gift and be reminded of God’s love to them,” he said.

Both Trinklein and Bjorum said those looking for a break from the stress need only look to the past. Trinklein said his church has suggested people take a fast from technology as a way to “realize that as wonderful as technology is, where could you benefit from spending more face-to-face time with people, especially those closest to you?”

And Bjorum said the traditional “12 Days of Christmas” don’t actually begin until Dec. 25.

“Christmas doesn’t end on the 25th — the focus of that goes from the 25th until … the ninth of January, which is the celebration of the baptism of the Lord,” he said.

Before then, helping children focus not on Santa Claus, but on helping others is another way to stay focused.

“The Giving Tree, the toy collection and the different things like that that we invite the children to be part of is, in a sense, is a way of trying to balance it,” he said. “Not just what you’re going to get, but that we need to give and share with others.”

Trinklein agreed.

“Helping the children be part of the giving, as well as part of that process to think about others and their needs, rather than just what they want,” is something parents can do to try to deflect the focus from presents and Santa Claus, he said.

Christians aren’t the only one facing this problem, either.

Rabbi Shneur Silberberg of the Bais Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield said he tries to remind members of the congregation that Hanukkah is a “reason to party, not an excuse to party.”

“If you truly understand the significance of the holiday, then you’re truly happy … because of the message of the holiday,” he said.

Silberberg said that those gathering to celebrate should take time to emphasize the significance of the holiday. For example, when adding a light to the menorah, “if we take a moment during the festivities (to) … talk a little bit about it — light prevailing over darkness and holiness prevailing over unholy … we’re adding meaning to the holiday.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1041.