In this issue of eCalling for Graduates, learn about the Christian saint that was the impetus for Santa Claus in Dr. Diedra Kriewald's Feast of Saint Nicholas service. Also, enjoy highlights from Dr. Lucy Hogan's Festival of Lesson and Carols service.
Table of Contents
- Feast of Saint Nicholas
- Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent
- Grad News and Notes
- Upcoming Events
- About eCalling for Graduates
- About Wesley
Feast of Saint Nicholas
On Tuesday, December 5, Dr. Diedra Kriewald, Wesley's professor of Christian Education, led the seminary's weekly chapel service in which she told the inspirational story of Saint Nicholas.
Read A Prayer for St. Nicholas Day
Listen to the stories of Saint Nicholas told during the December 5 chapel service
Read the lyrics to A Hymn for St. Nicholas Day
Saint Nicholas (d. 342 CE), the fourth century Bishop of Myra, was born in Patara in Lycia in Asia Minor and became the Bishop of the Episcopal see of Myra in present day Turkey. Eastern rite tradition records that Nicholas suffered imprisonment for his faith under Diocletian. He is reported also to have attended the Council of Nicea to fight the Arian heresy in 325 CE, although his name does not appear on the list of bishops. He died and was interred at Myra c. 342 CE. In 1087, Myra was under Muslim control and several of the Italian cities tried to steal the remains of St. Nicholas. The city of Bari, on the eastern coast of Italy, was successful in obtaining the relics and thus became a great pilgrimage site.
Accurate details of Nicholas' life are scarce, but story material in hagiography (the study of saints) is abundant. The earliest stories always picture Nicholas as generous with his resources, giving anonymously. Once ancient tale has Nicholas rescuing three children who were being turned into pickles in a tub of brine by their wicked relatives. Christmas tree ornaments designed as "pickles" are a relic from this tale of St. Nicholas. The pickling story, along with the tale that he gave the dowry for three poor girls, thus saving them from a life of prostitution, made him the beloved patron of children. Nicholas has been one of the most venerated saints of both East and West and the saint most represented in frescoes, stained glass and painting until the Reformation. In Great Britain alone, 500 churches are dedicated in his name.
Santa Claus (Sinte Klaus, Dutch for St. Nickolas) was never a historical person, but was created in New Amsterdam by the English and German Protestants whose children wanted a visit from St. Nicholas like their Dutch friends. These Protestants did not believe in either bishops or saints. These new world Protestants solved the situation by introducing a radical change in the Nicholas character and moving the date of his visit to their children from December 6, his traditional feast day, to Christmas Eve. The New Yorkers found their model for Santa Claus from the old world legends of the Germanic god Thor. Thor was represented in German mythology as a heavy, jovial god with a long white beard living in the cold north land. Thor was associated with fire and his suit color, therefore, was red. Fireplaces were special to Thor and he was said to come down the chimney to inspect household fireplaces. Thor drove about in a chariot drawn by two white goats named Cracker and Gnasher.
The new image of St. Nicholas, far removed from a saintly bishop, was solidified in the minds of most Americans by Clement Moore's poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" published in 1823. Moore's poem was based on the imagination of Washington Irving, who had created St. Nicholas as a rotund Dutch Burger smoking a clay pipe. The political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew "Santas" from 1863-1886, all based on Irving and Moore. The art of illustrators Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth in the 1920s and Haddon Sundbloom's coca-cola ads, featuring the cultural Santa, also helped replace the Christian Saint Nicholas with the fairy tale character, Santa Claus.
Santa Claus has become the favorite icon of civil religion in the United States and represents the giving of material goods at Christmas. To counter this secular experience, many Christian congregations are establishing again the ancient traditions of St. Nicholas on or around its proper date of December 6. St. Nicholas may visit in church gatherings early in Advent, while families can continue to let their young children enjoy the Santa Claus myth in malls and parades.
© copyright 2006 Diedra Kriewald. Churches may freely use with attribution.
Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent
Archbishop F.W. Benson developed the Festival of Lessons and Carols for Truro Cathedral in England in 1880. In 1918, Dean Eric Milner-White of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, England adapted the service for the chapel. Students of Dr. Lucy Hogan, Wesley's professor of preaching and worship, planned and carried out the Festival of Lessons and Carols for the Wesley community during the weekly chapel services on Tuesday, November 28 and Wednesday, November 29.
Read the full content of the Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent
Grad News and Notes
For and About Wesley Alums
Please send information you'd like to share with other Wesley alumni to Ann Keeler, director of alumni relations, at Graduates@wesleyseminary.edu.
The Rev. Turhan Potter, M.Div. '06, and his wife, Wesley student Monica Pearson Potter, welcomed their new daughter, Alyssa Diane Potter, on November 30.
The Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, M.Div. '94 and M.T.S. '00, passed away on December 11. A Memorial service is planned for December 30 at Community Church of New York. More information about her life and ministry is at http://justworld.typepad.com/perspectives.
Thomas Cowan Starnes, M.Div. '65, has written Through Fear to Faith: A Spiritual Journey. Available through http://www.authorhouse.com/, the author "takes readers through his past and present as he evaluates his relationship with Christianity and the church. During his 35 years as a minister in the United Methodist Church, Starnes served several rural, suburban and city churches and two terms as a conference executive. His articles have been published in The Washington Post, The Montgomery Journal, The Wilmington News Journal and various denominational publications. One of his essays, "A Family's Blessings," appears in the book, Out of the Closet - Into Our Hearts.
Upcoming Events
Doctor of Ministry Exploration Day - January 9, 2007
Wesley will host an exploration event on Tuesday, January 9, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for those interested in our Doctor of Ministry degree program, including the Campus Ministries and Spirituality and Story tracks. Read more about the D.Min. program at www.wesleyseminary.edu/doctorofministry. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Office of Admissions at (202) 885-8659.
Abner Hershberger, A Visiting Artist Returns - January 16 through March 9, 2007
The Dadian Gallery will host Abner Hershberger, as an exhibition in honor of Trever Bennett. Abner Herschberger was one of the seminary's earliest artists in residence, during the1981-82 academic year. Welcoming him back 25 years after his residency, this exhibition presents his recent abstract paintings, which he refers to as 'field notes.' A reception and artist's talk will be held at noon on Thursday, January 25. For more information, call (202) 885-8630.
Dr. John W. Kinney to Deliver Martin Luther King Lecture - January 30, 2007
Dr. John Kinney, the dean and professor of theology and historical studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, will deliver the Martin Luther King lecture during Wesley's weekly chapel service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 30. For more information, call (202) 885-8632.
Wesley Days - February 6, 2007
Do you know someone exploring a call to ministry? On Tuesday, February 6, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., individuals interested in the seminary can tour our campus and learn more about our master-level degree programs. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Office of Admissions at (202) 885-8659.
© Copyright 2006 Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.
