In The Kingdom of God Is a Party, evangelist Tony Campolo described the Christian life as a joyful celebration. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a wedding feast or a great banquet, with a guest list that includes outsiders and the marginalized (Matthew 22, Luke 14).
AW’s December issue will celebrate celebration. We’re inviting submissions about how and why you celebrate — during the Advent/Christmas/New Year’s season or at any time of the year. You could tell about a memorable celebration with family, with your local congregation or at a larger church or denominational event. Perhaps an experience with believers overseas opened your eyes to a different way to celebrate.
How have celebrations impacted your life, perhaps in times of trial and challenge? How do celebrations bring us together, even with people we don’t know? How have your celebrations differed from society’s expectations of lavish consumption? How does your congregation celebrate baptisms or other milestones of faith?
Deadline: October 20. Length 600 to 1,200 words.
Have a comment on this story? Write to the editors. Include your full name, city and state. Selected comments will be edited for publication in print or online.