Advent 2013 Family Devotional Guide Getting ready for the coming of Christ 719 Earl GarrettтАВ тАвтАВ Kerrville, TX 78028 LLYC.orgтАВ тАвтАВ LLFamilyCamp.orgтАВ тАвтАВ LaityLodge.orgтАВ тАвтАВ TheHighCalling.org Advent 2013 Family Devotional Guide Getting ready for the coming of Christ Mark D. Roberts with Laity Lodge Staff Members Copyrighted material ┬й2013 Mark D. Roberts Not for sale or distribution. Preface This past summer, hundreds of teenagers descended upon Laity Lodge Youth Camp (LLYC) to have amazing fun, make great friends, and experience the grace of God in many different ways. We who have the privilege of working at LLYC strive to create an experience that campers will never forget. This year, our camping ministry in the Frio Canyon was expanded as never before through the growth of Laity Lodge Family Camp (LLFC). Our new Headwaters facility hosted dozens of families of all shapes and sizes. Like those downstream, LLFC campers also had amazing fun, made great friends, and experienced the grace of God in manifold ways. We who are blessed to work at LLYC and LLFC seek to create an experience that our campers will never forget. Yet, our mission extends beyond what happens in the Canyon; weтАиare eager to help kids and families grow as disciples of Christ in their whole lives, wherever they are. We also care deeply about the families of our LLYC campers and seek ways to serve them. This Advent devotional guide is one way we can encourage all of our campers and their families outside of camp. For most of us, the holiday season is jam-packed with activity. As we prepare for Christmas and enjoy holiday concerts, peppermint bark, and spending time with people we love, sometimes we miss something more importantтАФthe chance to grow in our relationship with God in the weeks before Christmas. For centuries, the Christian season of Advent has enabled people to prepare for a deeper, more joyful celebration of the birth of Christ. Through Advent, we can grow closer to God and experience his loving presence. ThatтАЩs the purpose of this devotional guide. This guide was written by Mark Roberts, our colleague in Foundations for Laity Renewal, the umbrella organization of LLYC and LLFC. Officially, Mark is the Executive Director of Digital Media as well as the Theological and Cultural Steward for our organization. Mark works alongside LLYC and LLFC staff, providing biblical guidance and spiritual encouragement. Last summer, he was actively 2тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ involved at Echo Valley, coaching our teachers and counselors and teaching in our Sunday morning worship time. MarkтАЩs children, Nathan and Kara, also worked at camp. Nathan was a programmer at Echo Valley and Kara split her time between Sugar Shack and counseling. Mark and his wife, Linda, also taught at LLFC for a week. Linda was often busy at Laity Lodge, giving devotions, counseling with guests, and just hanging out. In ways both broad and deep, Mark and his family have made a big difference in the Canyon. Because weтАЩre ever grateful for the refreshment MarkтАЩs godly teaching has provided to all of us, weтАЩre especially pleased to gift this Advent devotional guide to you from all of us at LLYC and LLFC. Some of our staff have offered short reflections to this devotional, and we hope you are blessed by their words. Whether you use this guide for your personal time with God or as part of a family devotional time, we pray it will open your heart to knowing GodтАЩs love more deeply in this Christmas season and preparing to receive the greatest gift, the birth of Christ. The LLYC and LLFC Teams Discovering Advent I love Christmas. I love decorations, parties, and presents. I love carols, nativity scenes, and Christmas Eve worship services. Most of all, I love the chance to wonder at the miracle of God becoming human in the baby Jesus. But, I must confess, sometimes the busyness of the Christmas season has made it hard for me to focus on what matters most. I could almost miss Jesus in the midst of celebrating his birthday. For many years of my life, I tried to make him тАЬthe reason for the season,тАЭ but I fell short in my efforts. Then I discovered the season of Advent. I learned that, for centuries, Christians set apart the weeks before Christmas as a special season of preparing for the birth of Jesus. And, I discovered that Advent provided a way for me to enjoy the delights of ChristmasAn Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 3 time and also to grow closer to God. Thus, I became, not just a lover of Christmas, but also a lover of Advent. (If youтАЩre curious about how I discovered Advent, I tell this story in an e-book called Discovering Advent: How to Experience the Power of Waiting on God at Christmastime. You can find more information about the book at the end of this guide.) What Is Advent? Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us prepare for the coming, or тАЬadvent,тАЭ of Christ at Christmas. The word тАЬadventтАЭ comes from the Latin word that means тАЬcoming.тАЭ In this season, we put ourselves back into the shoes (well, sandals) of the Jewish people who longed for the coming of the Messiah. AtтАиthe same time, we remember that we are also awaiting the second advent of Jesus, when his kingdom will fill the earth. Thus, Advent is a serious time of getting in touch with our hope and yearning. Yet, it is also a joyous time because we know that Christmas is coming and that the Savior was indeed born among us. Introduction to the Advent Wreath For hundreds of years, Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Bible verses, we are reminded about the meaning of ChristтАЩs birth and become more excited about his coming in the past, in the future, and in our own lives. Advent wreaths take a variety of shapes and forms. Some are made of actual pine and fir branches, but many other materials can be used. They also vary in size, from a few inches wide to a few feet wide. IтАЩve seen photos of a floating Advent wreath in Austria that appears to be forty-feet wide. If you search for тАЬAdvent wreathтАЭ in Google images, youтАЩll see a wide variety of options. 4тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ About Advent Candles All Advent wreaths include candles. Four candles are placed around the wreath and one is set in the center. There is no set meaning for the candles of the Advent wreath (except for the middle candle, which signifies the birth of Jesus the Christ and is often called the тАЬChrist CandleтАЭ). I have been in churches where the four candles symbolize peace, hope, joy, and love. In other settings, they are identified with key figures in the stories of the birth of Jesus, such as the shepherds, the angels, Joseph, and Mary. In this devotional guide, I have used the main theme of waiting to give structure and meaning to the Advent candles, with each candle focused on one of four different aspects of our waiting. Advent wreaths employ candles with a variety of colors. Some wreaths use all white candles; others use three purple or blue candles, one pink candle, and one white candle in the middle. I share an understanding of the Advent wreath with many Christians for whom the purple candles remind us of how serious andтАиsolemn GodтАЩs people have been in waiting for the Messiah. The pink signifies the joy of our waiting. The white is triumphant and celebrative because Christ is born. When using this guide, if you prefer blue candles to purple, thatтАЩs fine. When I write, тАЬLight a purple candle,тАЭ you can translate that to тАЬblue candle.тАЭ The colors have symbolic meanings, but there is not one orthodox arrangement. Customizing This Guide What follows is a guide for personal, family, or corporate worship that can accompany lighting the candles of the Advent wreath. You can do this on your own with a real Advent wreath. You can also use this guide with family and/or close friends. All families are different, and I encourage you to adapt what I suggest here to meet the needs of your own unique family culture. Parents will also want to make changes to fit the developmental stages of their children. An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 5 Speaking of children, they have great expectations and hopes during Advent. These are usually associated with Christmas presents, Santa Claus, and holiday celebrations and treats. Rather than discouraging these hopes (a pursuit, which, anyway, would be futile), I urge parents to help their children get the feel of Advent by sharing their own hopes and thoughts about biblical Advent themes. Using the Guide at Home To use this guide, youтАЩll need an Advent wreath and five candles. You can purchase Advent wreath sets online or from some Christian bookstores, but itтАЩs also easy to make your own Advent wreath.тАиIn fact, making a wreath can be part of the fun for a family. Be creative as you fashion your wreath, perhaps twisting fir branches around a circular wire frame. YouтАЩll want four candles on the circle of the wreath and one candle in the middle. (One word of warning: Remember that dry fir branches are quite flammable, so keep branches away from flames.) Set aside time during the four Sundays prior to Christmas for using this devotional guide. The first Sunday in Advent this year is December 1. The lighting ceremony takes only about ten minutes, though you can add personal elements if you wish. If you canтАЩt make time on a Sunday, itтАЩs fine to light the candles on another day. In my family, sometimes we do it on Saturday evenings. The point isnтАЩt following all the rules correctly. ItтАЩs focusing on the advent of our Lord and Savior, preparing our hearts to welcome him in a fresh way. Wishing you GodтАЩs richest blessings as you prepare for ChristтАЩs coming! Mark D. Roberts 6тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ December 1, 2013 The First Sunday of Advent The Lighting of the First Candle: Waiting for Christ, the Shepherd The Meaning of Advent Advent is a word that means тАЬcomingтАЭ or тАЬvisit.тАЭ In the Christian season of Advent, we prepare for the тАЬadventтАЭ of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things: тАв We remember IsraelтАЩs hope for the coming of GodтАЩs Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore. тАв We remember our hope for the second coming of Jesus. тАв We remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins. тАв We prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas into our world . . . and into our hearts. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we are intentional about preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. The candles have different meanings and each is based upon the Bible. These meanings help us understand how special the birth of Jesus is for us. Today we focus on the coming of Christ as our Shepherd. Prayer for GodтАЩs Help Lord, we thank you that you are a faithful God and promise to save us. We ask that you would help us to trust in you and receive your grace. We look forward to the day when you come again, but help us to experience your comfort and care even now. In JesusтАЩ name, Amen. Week One Readings Note: Parents, you may wish to abbreviate or eliminate certain readings depending on the age(s) of your child(ren). You may also want to read these selections out of a ChildrenтАЩs Bible. If you are using this guide by yourself, consider responding to these questions in a journal. An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 7 Psalm 80:1-7 In this psalm, we join the people of Israel as they invite God their Shepherd to save and to restore them. Isaiah 40:1-11 This passage looks ahead to the coming of the Lord, who will care for his people like a shepherd. Revelation 7:9-17 Like GodтАЩs people before the coming of Christ, we also look ahead to the time when Christ, who is both the Lamb and our Shepherd, will finish his work and тАЬGod will wipe away every tearтАЭ from our eyes. Questions for ReflectionтАВ тАв тАв тАв тАв Have you ever been rescued by God? What does it mean for Jesus to be the Lamb of God? What does it mean for God to be the Good Shepherd? How have you experienced GodтАЩs care or comfort as one of his тАЬsheepтАЭ? Just Keep Swimming Reflection by Emily Ballbach, Program Director for Laity Lodge Family Camp See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. I tтАЩs a long story, so IтАЩll spare you the details. When I was fourteen, I got caught in a rip current off the coast of Washington state in JuneтАЩs chilly water. I knew to swim parallel to shore and wait for help to come; I just didnтАЩt anticipate waiting for 45 minutes. I swam hard, receiving wave after wave, hoping to keep enough air in my lungs to make it underwater as each wave tossed me around. My marathon swim kept me searching for the Lord and praying hard for his help. I knew I needed to be rescued, and only God would receive the credit. If I were to make it through, I would know God had a purpose for my life. An ambulance came to shore in the distance, and the Coast Guard finally made their way to me in the choppy waters, bringing me safely to shore. We all need to be rescued, saved, or even restored. The nation of Israel had this same need as they anticipated the coming Messiah. In exile, they needed God to rescue them and restore them to a right relationship with our faithful God. God did rescue them, just as he will rescue us. What is most important, however, is not just that God saved Israel and me and you, but that he is a gracious God. Scripture tells us that we are the LordтАЩs sheep, Jesus is the great lamb of sacrifice, and God is our good shepherd. God knows his sheep and cares deeply for us. Through Jesus, God identifies with our pain, as he comes to save with comfort and care. Like Israel, we anticipate the coming of Christ once more. The Lamb of God will come again to establish his kingdom among us. Scripture promises us that when he comes, he will lead us to living waters of eternal hope, promise, and life. He will wipe away every tear, and we will be truly and finally rescued into the presence of God forever. GodтАЩs ambulance is on the shore. His coast guard is ready to navigate the choppy waters. He has a purpose for you. Just keep swimming. Isaiah 40:10-11 8тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 9 Lighting the First Candle As someone lights the first purple candle, the following should be read or paraphrased. тАЬWe light this candle because, like GodтАЩs people centuries ago, we also look forward with hope to the coming of the Shepherd. The purple color of the candle reminds us of the seriousness of our hope.тАЭ Prayer of Hope Dear God, As we light this candle, we hope for your coming as our Good Shepherd. Please gather us in your arms, feed us with spiritual food, wipe away every tear from our eyes, and тАЬlet your face shine, that we may be saved.тАЭ Come, our Shepherd! Amen. Closing Song To be sung to the tune of тАЬO Come Let Us Adore HimтАЭ from тАЬO Come All Ye Faithful.тАЭ O come to us, our Shepherd, O come to us, our Shepherd, O come to us, our Shepherd, Christ the Lord! December 8, 2013 The Second Sunday of Advent The Lighting of the Second Candle: Waiting for Forgiveness Relight the first purple candle. The Meaning of Advent Advent is a word that means тАЬcomingтАЭ or тАЬvisit.тАЭ In the Christian season of Advent, we prepare for the тАЬadventтАЭ of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things: тАв We remember IsraelтАЩs hope for the coming of GodтАЩs Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore. тАв We remember our hope for the second coming of Jesus. тАв We remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins. тАв We prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas into our world . . . and into our hearts. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we are intentional about preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. The candles have different meanings and each is based upon the Bible. These meanings help us understand how special the birth of Jesus is for us. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we help ourselves to get ready for the birth of Jesus. Last week we lit a candle that signified our waiting for God our Shepherd. Today we focus on the coming of Christ, who brings forgiveness from our sins. Prayer for GodтАЩs Help Lord, you are the light which the darkness has not overcome. Help me to see your light, even when darkness surrounds me. Help me to put my hope in you, and to trust that you are near. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. 10тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 11 Week Two Readings Psalm 130:1-8 In this psalm, we join the psalmist in crying out for GodтАЩs forgiveness. Jeremiah 31:31-34 God promises to make a new covenant with us, in which our sins will be forgiven and forgotten. Luke 1:68-79 When an angel appears to Zechariah in the temple and tells him that his wife will give birth to a son, the old man doesnтАЩt believe the angel. As a result, Zechariah is unable to speak for many months, until immediately after the birth of his son John (the Baptist). Right after the birth, Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks the prophecy that we will read. Questions for ReflectionтАВ тАв Describe a time when you have been somewhere dark and wished it were light. Did you call for help? тАв What was the response? тАв What did you learn from the experience? тАГ God Will Show Us the Way Reflection by Steven Purcell, Executive Director of Laity Lodge And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. Luke 1:76-79 12тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ H ave you ever been in a situation when you were anxious for the sun to rise? Have you been somewhere dark and wished it were light? Days after I graduated from college, I had a physical emergency which landed me in the hospital and which eventually required surgery. Late one evening while I was still in the hospital recovering from surgery, the same incident occurred again. Nurses were still on duty, but my family and the doctors who knew my situation had already gone home for the evening. I was devastated and afraid. Not wanting to bother my family in the middle of the night, I lay in my hospital bed and waited for the morning. It seemed to never come. Finally, at the first glimmer of daylight, I called home. My experience of waiting in darkness took place in a hospital bed. But there have been other times in my life when IтАЩve experienced dark circumstances that I wanted to end; when I lost a friend or felt threatened at work or felt ashamed about something. In the Scripture readings for today, we see GodтАЩs people in dark circumstances of their own. They are oppressed by their enemies and burdened by their own sin. The Psalmist compares the experience to being at the тАЬbottom of a pitтАЭ (Psalm 130). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, describes GodтАЩs people as тАЬlost in darknessтАЭ (Luke 1:79). But with beautiful poetry, Zechariah also says that тАЬGodтАЩs sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness.тАЭ God will тАЬshow us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peaceтАЭ (Luke 1:78-79; The Message). I eventually received the care I needed and was released from the hospital. That particular health concern has never bothered me again. However, there have been plenty of other dark nights along the way that I wanted to end with the rising of the sun. Some of those nights lasted longer than others. But in hindsight, I believe GodтАЩs tender mercy was with me in every situation. Advent reminds us to look forward to the day when we will no longer need to wait for the sun to rise, because the Glory of God will be our light. In the meantime, we can trust that God is with us, even in times of darkness. Maybe especially in times of darkness. An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 13 Lighting the Second Candle тАЬWe light this candle because, like GodтАЩs people centuries ago, we also need a Savior who will forgive our sins. The purple color reminds us of the seriousness of our sin and our great need for GodтАЩs forgiveness.тАЭ Prayer of Hope Dear God, As we light this candle, we recognize our sin and our need for a savior. We wait for your forgiveness in Christ. We long to be purified so that we might present ourselves to you in righteousness. Come, Our Savior! Amen. Closing Song To be sung to the tune of тАЬO Come Let Us Adore HimтАЭ from тАЬO Come All Ye Faithful.тАЭ O come to us, forgive us, O come to us, forgive us, O come to us, forgive us, Christ the Lord! December 15, 2013 The Third Sunday of Advent The Lighting of the Third Candle: Waiting With Joy Relight the past weeksтАЩ candles. The Meaning of Advent Advent is a word that means тАЬcomingтАЭ or тАЬvisit.тАЭ In the Christian season of Advent, we prepare for the тАЬadventтАЭ of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things: тАв We remember IsraelтАЩs hope for the coming of GodтАЩs Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore. тАв We remember our hope for the second coming of Jesus. тАв We remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins. тАв We prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas into our world . . . and into our hearts. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we help ourselves get ready for the birth of Jesus. So far, we have lit two candles. The first helped us to hope for God our Shepherd; with the second, we asked God to come and forgive our sins. Today we remember the joy of waiting, because we know how the story ends! Prayer for GodтАЩs Help Lord, thank you for your many blessings. Forgive me when I take life into my own hands. Help me to not worry. Thank you for being near and continuing to pursue me and love me in my weakness. Amen. 14тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 15 Week Three Readings Psalm 126:1-6 This psalm celebrates GodтАЩs restoration of IsraelтАФand it cries out to God for future restoration. Zephaniah 3:14-20 Through the prophet Zephaniah, God looks ahead to the time when he will renew and heal his people. It will be a day of great rejoicing, both for them and for God! Philippians 4:4-7 We also rejoice in the Lord, in part because we know that тАЬthe Lord is near.тАЭ This means, not only that God is with us right now, but also that Christ is coming soon. Questions for ReflectionтАВ тАв How does it look to тАЬrejoice in the Lord always?тАЭ тАв Do you struggle with anxiety? тАв Do you consider the season leading up to Christmas to be a time when it is easier or harder to experience GodтАЩs peace? тАвWhy? тАГ Are You Running Just to Avoid Losing? Reflection by Chandler Pruitt, Senior Director of Laity Lodge Youth Camp Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 16тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ M y favorite Christmas gift of all time was an electric football game. The game was played on a small, vibrating metal field with plastic players who amble aimlessly when the game is switched on. Even as a child, I was a perfectionist, so I would meticulously arrange my players in exacting formations. My cousin, on the other hand, would simply bunch his players in haphazard fashion on the line of scrimmage. To my absolute witsтАЩ end, he would usually win. My running back would sprint in the open field for the end zone only to make a sudden, random U-turn at the five yard line, retreating to be tackled or running out of bounds. Or my wide receiver, with his arm extended, would lock arms with any willing accomplice and do-si-do until the play ended. The unpredictability of the game haunted me. Perhaps this explains why I am troubled by this passage of Scripture. PaulтАЩs words to the Philippians are so clear, so precise, and so profound. God is near! Yet my тАЬperfectionismтАЭ makes this hard to accept. Rejoice in the Lord always? Do not be anxious for anything? These seemingly unattainable absolutes haunt me because I am too human to meet GodтАЩs standard. In my struggles, I have often wondered if God is indeed near. As I moved on in life, I transferred my perfectionism to academics and athletics. I was raised in the culture where second place was the first loser. I found myself running races, not to win, but to avoid losing. And even more recently, I inspected and fretted the smallest of details when my house was being built. My perfectionism has led to unwarranted anxiety. I know that God is near. I have enough faith to fear God, but do I have enough to hope? GodтАЩs grace helps me to hope, even though I know GodтАЩs standards can be nothing less than perfect. Of course, I want to be perfect! God wants this for me, too, and so he offers grace. My anxiety arises when I lose sight of that grace. Surely, Paul himself had anxious moments too, perhaps even as he wrote his letter to the Philippians. An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 17 The wise man Bobby McFerrin said, тАЬDonтАЩt worry. Be happy.тАЭ Great words to live by, but PaulтАЩs advice is a little different. He says, тАЬDonтАЩt worry. Pray.тАЭ He even presents a classic тАЬif-thenтАЭ statement. If you pray, then тАЬbefore you know it, a sense of GodтАЩs wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. ItтАЩs wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your lifeтАЭ (The Message). December 22, 2013 The Fourth Sunday of Advent The Lighting of the Fourth Candle: Waiting With the Son Relight the past weeksтАЩ candles. Christmas is coming. Rejoice, for God is near! The Meaning of Advent Lighting the Third Candle Advent is a word that means тАЬcomingтАЭ or тАЬvisit.тАЭ In the Christian season of Advent, we prepare for the тАЬadventтАЭ of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things: тАЬWe light this candle because, like GodтАЩs people centuries ago, we know that God has come in Christ and that Christ will come again. We rejoice in GodтАЩs work in history and in the future. The pink color means joy!тАЭ Prayer of Hope Dear God, As we light this candle, we rejoice. We know how the first act of the story endedтАФwith the birth of Jesus the Messiah. And we know that he will come again in glory. So even though the story isnтАЩt over, we rejoice in our hope. We wait for you, rejoicing! Amen. Closing Song To be sung to the tune of тАЬO Come Let Us Adore HimтАЭ from тАЬO Come All Ye Faithful.тАЭ We wait for you, rejoicing, We wait for you, rejoicing, We wait for you, rejoicing, Christ the Lord! 18тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ тАв We remember IsraelтАЩs hope for the coming of GodтАЩs Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore. тАв We remember our hope for the second coming of Jesus. тАв We remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins. тАв We prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas into our world . . . and into our hearts. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we help ourselves get ready for the birth of Jesus. So far, we have lit three candles. The first reminded us to wait for God our Shepherd. With the second, we asked the Lord to come and forgive our sins. The third, pink, candle signified our joy as we wait. Today we focus on the coming of the SonтАФthe son of Mary, the Son of God! Prayer for GodтАЩs Help Jesus, sometimes it feels like we still live in a land of deep darknessтАФwhen the lights go out, when the storms rage, when we are overwhelmed with sadness or fear. Shine a light into the dark places of our lives. Help us feel your presence where we need it most. We thank you so much for Christmas coming soon! Help us know your peace during these last days before the big celAn Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 19 ebration. Thank you for giving us a reason to celebrate so many years ago when Jesus came into the world. In his name. Amen. Week Four Readings Psalm 89:1-4, 19-37, 46-52 This psalm celebrates GodтАЩs covenant with David and with the descendants of David. He even calls God тАЬmy FatherтАЭ (vs. 26). But the psalmist composed this psalm at a time when GodтАЩs blessing upon Israel seemed very far away. He calls upon the Lord to remember his covenant to David. Isaiah 9:1-7 Deliverance will come for GodтАЩs people through the тАЬsonтАЭ who is given to them. He will sit on the throne of David and his kingdom will last forever. Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is pregnant and will give birth to a son. Her son will also be тАЬthe Son of the Most HighтАЭ and will sit on the throne of David. He will be the reigning Son of David and the divine Son of God! Questions for ReflectionтАВ тАв Are you excited about Christmas? тАв What are you especially excited about? тАв How does waiting for Christmas help you think about waiting for Jesus to shine his light into the world? тАв Does Jesus shine his light through you? Hoping to Touch Jesus This Christmas Reflection by Marcus Goodyear, Senior Editor of The High Calling The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. D o you have big thunderstorms where you live? My family loves a good thunderstorm during the day. We sit together on the porch and watch the dark sky and the sheets of rain. Our poor dog is terrified of storms, so she will sit on my lap and tremble with fear. At night, though, thunderstorms can be scary, especially if the electricity goes out. When my kids were younger, they would climb in our bed next to our poor, scared dog who trembled so badly she shook the whole bed. The entire family cuddled together in the darkness, hoping for the storm to end. Sometimes, I would light a candle on my dresser to help us see in the night. Light is a good thing. In the beginning, God said, тАЬLet there be light!тАЭ Light was GodтАЩs first act of creation (Genesis 1:3-4). In Psalms, David says, тАЬThe Lord is my light and salvationтАЭ (Psalm 27). He also says that GodтАЩs word is a lamp for his feet and a light for his path (Psalm 119:105). In one of the readings this week, Isaiah prophesied that God will send a light to the people who live in darkness. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when he came to earth and preached that the Kingdom of God is near (Matt. 4:12-17). And Jesus is still fulfilling the prophecy today. He is the light in a dark world. Sometimes I think the Kingdom of God is especially near when we live as children of lightтАФloving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus has redeemed the world for us, and he continues to spread his light into the dark places. This doesnтАЩt make the darkness any less scary. But you know what? It is okay to be scared of things that are scary. When the house is dark, I might bump into something and hurt my toe. When there is a bad storm, I want to stay inside where it is warm and dry and calm. Sometimes, I wish I could run to Jesus the way my kids ran to our bed during those storms. Of course, I do run to Jesus by praying and reading Scripture and worshipping at my church and offering my life as a sacrifice to God. I am deeply grateful for all of the ways God is present and active in the world today, but during Advent, I Isaiah 9:2, NLT 20тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 21 find myself wishing I could touch Jesus. I look forward to the day when that hope will be real. As excited as I am about the coming of Christmas, it wonтАЩt even compare to how exciting it will be when Jesus comes again! Lighting the Fourth Candle тАЬWe light this candle because we look forward with eagerness to the birth of a child, the son of Mary and the Son of God! The purple color reminds us of how serious we are in looking forward to the SonтАЩs birth.тАЭ Prayer of Hope Dear God, As we light this candle, we look ahead with hope to the birth of your SonтАФthe Son of David, the Son of Mary. May we be prepared to welcome him with open arms and open hearts. O come now, Son of David! Amen! Closing Song To be sung to the tune of тАЬO Come Let Us Adore HimтАЭ from тАЬO Come All Ye Faithful.тАЭ O come now, Son of David, O come now, Son of David, December 24, 2013 Christmas Eve The Lighting of the Christ Candle: Our Wait is Over! Relight the past weeksтАЩ candles and the pink candle. We Celebrate the Birth of Christ This Advent, we have used the wreath and its candles to help us get ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. When we lit the first purple candle, we asked God to come and be our Good Shepherd. God our Shepherd has come in Jesus Christ! When we lit the second purple candle, we asked God to come and forgive our sins. God has come in Jesus Christ to take our sins and die upon the cross so that we might be forgiven! When we lit the third, pink candle, we felt joyful even in our longing for Christ to come. Christ, who has been born in a manger, will come again in glory to wipe away every tear from our eyes! When we lit the fourth candle, we remembered that Christ would come as a sonтАФthe son of Mary, the Son of David, and the Son of God! This Son has been born! He is ImmanuelтАФGod with us! Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ, Jesus the Good Shepherd, Jesus who forgives our sins, Jesus who will come again, Jesus the son of Mary, the Son of David, and the very Son of God! O come now, Son of David, Christ the Lord! Prayer for GodтАЩs Help Dear God, thank you for Christmas! Thank you for Christmas presents and Christmas dinners, for Christmas parties and Christmas specials. Thank you for family and friends who share these joys with us. Be with those for whom this season is hard. Comfort them. Give them peace that passes understanding. Help them to rejoice in you always. 22тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 23 And help us to not forget why we celebrate. Thank you most of all for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and rose on the third day to save us by grace. Thank you for Christmas. In ChristтАЩs name, Amen. Readings Micah 5:1-5 God promises through the prophet Micah that his future rule will come from Bethlehem, even though this town is, indeed, a тАЬlittle townтАЭ and quite insignificant. Luke 2:1-20 Jesus the Messiah is born in Bethlehem! Psalm 145 Let us join the psalmist in offering praise to God for his mighty works! Questions for ReflectionтАВ тАв What is your favorite Christmas special? Why? тАв Has your Christmas season this year felt extremely busy and hectic or more calm and peaceful? тАв How can you shine a spotlight on the true meaning of Christmas this season? Shining a Spotlight on What Christmas Is All About Reflection by Marcus Goodyear, Senior Editor of The High Calling And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, тАЬDo not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.тАЭ Luke 2:8-12 24тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ A t our house, we love our Christmas movies and Christmas specials. During Advent, we watch Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Before Christmas. We watch Rudolf and the original animated Grinch and the hilarious nativity scene from Merry Christmas Mr. Bean. But one special trumps them all: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Nearly 50 years ago in 1965, Charles Schulz and the Peanuts gang were already struggling with an overly commercialized holiday season. Even Charlie Brown himself loses sight of the true meaning of Christmas when he tries to direct his friends in a Christmas pageant. Finally, he shouts in frustration, тАЬIsnтАЩt there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!тАЭ In one of the most astounding moments in television history, Linus answers Charlie BrownтАЩs question. He drags his blanket to center stage, stands alone in a simple spotlight, and recites Luke 2:8-14. Linus says, тАЬFor unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.тАЭ Back in 1965, executives at CBS thought the scene was a mistake, but audiences loved it. They needed to hear LinusтАЩ answer as much as Charlie Brown. In my house, we need LinusтАЩ answer every year. Jesus is more than just a baby in a manger. He is more than just a good teacher and a storyteller. He is more than our prayer buddy who takes our requests to God. Jesus is our Savior. He is Christ. He is the Lord, fully God and fully human. During the insanity of Christmas, I hope we are all taking time like this to reflect, to meet with family and friends, to shine a spotlight onto the true meaning of Christmas. It isnтАЩt about presents. It isnтАЩt about decorations or food or cookies or caroling. Those are fun ways to celebrate, but they are not our reason for celebration. Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. His life is a model for how we should live. His death for our sins is a model of the humble nature we should have. And his resurrection is a prom- An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 25 ise that someday we will know peace on earth and good will toward all people. Merry Christmas from everyone at Foundations for Laity Renewal! Lighting the Christ Candle тАЬWe light this candle with great joy and celebration, because Christ is born in Bethlehem. GodтАЩs Son has come into the world to be our Saviour! And he will come again in glory.тАЭ Prayer of Joy and Adoration Dear God, As we light this candle, we rejoice in the birth of your Son. May we worship him, welcome him, and make room for him in our hearts. O come, let us adore him! Amen! Closing Song To be sung to the tune of тАЬO Come Let Us Adore HimтАЭ from тАЬO Come All Ye Faithful.тАЭ O come let us adore him, Discovering Advent If youтАЩd like to learn more about Advent, you might want to check out MarkтАЩs e-book: Discovering Advent: How to Experience the Power of Waiting on God at Christmastime. Visit the following page on MarkтАЩs blog: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/pages/ marks-e-book-discovering-advent/ The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is the Executive Director of Digital Media and the Theological and Cultural Steward for Foundations for Laity Renewal, the umbrella organization of LLYC and LLFC. From October 2007 through August 2011, Mark was the Senior Director for Laity Lodge. For 16 years, before moving to Texas, he was the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling, a website produced by Foundations for Laity Renewal. His тАЬDaily ReflectionsтАЭ can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, visit TheHighCalling.org. Mark has been an active blogger since 2003. His blog is now part of the growing community of Patheos.com. You can find it here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/. Mark has written several books and dozens of articles for magazines and journals, including No Holds Barred. O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 26тАГ Getting ready for the coming of Christ An Advent Devotional Guide for 2013тАГ 27