Introduction
Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is
the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the
celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.
The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to
prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First
Coming of Christ at Christmas. With the view of directing the
thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Jesus Christ as
Savior, and to his second coming as Judge, special lessons are prescribed for each of
the four Sundays in Advent.
Many churches and some families make use of Advent wreaths during this season, with
one candle representing each of the four Sundays of Advent. The rose candle is lit on
the 3rd Sunday of Advent. During Christmas Day, four lit white candles are used.
Advent began as a time that converts prepared themselves for baptism through
instruction, prayer, fasting and reflection not unlike Lent but not as a penitential time.
By the middle Ages, the emphasis of Advent had become a time to prepare for the
Second Coming of Christ. Over the years Advent also became a time to anticipate the
Nativity as well
Advent has fallen on hard times. For most people, it's become a time to get ready for
whatever you're doing with family and friends on Christmas, and not a time to get ready
for the Christ child. The bigger Christmas became the more it swallowed up Advent. In
fact, whatever Christmas-y thing we think of as being done before Christmas Day is
actually done in Advent. In the US, everything after Thanksgiving is now seen as a part
of Christmas. The main problem is not that Christmas intrudes on Advent. The real
problem is that people no longer keep their Christmas focus on Christ, and then the
Christ less Christmas saps Christ from Advent.
Practicing Advent as a religious season may help recover Christmas, but it can't do it by
itself. If you don't look to Jesus every day in every season, you'll lose Advent,
Christmas, Lent, and even Easter. It'll be a tiring rush, not a loving celebration, and it'll
be about family or money or image and not our loving Maker.
This little booklet hopes to be an aide and resource for all who wish to read or meditate
each day as a way to prepare for the Incarnations of God with us Jesus.
28 November 2010
First Sunday of Advent - The Annunciation Luke 1:26-38
I think there are few people who have had children, or are close to those who have had
children who can forget the moment they heard the words there is a baby on the way.
I remember clearly when I called the doctor’s office to learn the results of the test for our
first child (which all the doctors and nurses were sure would be negative but I was sure
would be positive). As the nurse said Oh, Mrs. Foughty, I am sure you are not (imagine
stunned silence) you’re pregnant but you can’t be wow, congratulations, how did that
happen (I wanted to suggest she reread her medical book if she was not sure about
that). I was elated, nauseous but elated. Mike was ecstatic. Then we were nervous
and filled with questions. Were we ready, what would our life be like from now on, etc?
But in the end it did not matter. There was a baby on the way a sure sign of Gods
wonder and creation.
Every Advent I think on those days, days of wonder, excitement, a little sickness and
even a little fear and I remember Mary our Lords mother. Was I any different? How will
God show me through this child and this season the wonders that lay ahead, for me for
my family and for all humankind?
And I remember I need only to try hard to put all that practical stuff aside and listen even
when I am told it is impossible.
Mother Donna
Monday 29 November 2010
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we
who have known the incarnation of your Son
Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the
Virgin Mary, may by His cross and passion be
brought to the glory of His resurrection. (Collect
for the feast day of The Annunciation, Book of
Common Prayer)
Tuesday 30 November 2010
The Story of the Jesse Tree
Most of us know about Advent wreaths but many of us may not be very familiar with the
Jesse Tree. There are many ways to make a Jesse Tree most that are homemade
begin with a bare branch and then add the symbols that you will see on various pages
throughout this book. These symbols represent various parts of the story of our
Salvation History.
The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of
Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is a way to tell the Story of God in the Old
Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000
years of history. The Branch is a biblical sign of newness out of discouragement, which
became a way to talk about the expected messiah (for example, Jer. 23:5). It is
therefore an appropriate symbol of Jesus the Christ, who is the revelation of the grace
and faithfulness of God. The Jesse Tree helps us retell this story, and express this
hope.
Salvation history is the story of God’s saving work in time. We all know the story: We
start with creation, then Adam and Eve and the fall. From the time of the fall, God had a
plan to save us through the obedience of His son, using many people along the way:
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, etc, going all the way to Jesus. When the
daily ornament is hung on the tree, a scripture passage is read which tells the story of
that day a story that continues on the path to Jesus, just like what we do in our spiritual
preparation during Advent. The first ornament is a stump, and 1 Sam16:1-13 is read. It
is the story of Jesse.
Why Jesse and who is he? Grieving his disappointment with King Saul, the Lord sent
Samuel to find a new king for Israel. He sent Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem. Jesse had
seven sons, the youngest, David, whom we
know as King David, the greatest of Israel’s
Kings. Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords, is from the line of David. It is Jesus
who is the shoot from the stump of Jesse
referred to in the scripture passage above.
So we start with the story of Jesse on the
first Sunday of Advent. On Monday of the
first week, the ornament is a depiction of the
world, symbolizing Gods creation of the
world and reading from Genesis 1. On
Tuesday of the first week, the ornament is a
snake or an apple, symbolizing the fall of
man, and reading from Genesis 3. And so it continues day after day until story is told
and we celebrate the beautiful feast of Christ.
Wednesday December 1, 2010
Longing for the light of God’s presence
Hosea 6:3
Let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Meditation
As the sun is constant, so too is the love of God; it is we who, like the Earth, sometimes
turn away and sometimes turn towards God. My waiting is for my own readiness to see
the light.
Prayer
Light stirs through rain clouds.
I remember your deep love.
I long for your warmth.
Sunshine and rain
wake seeds deep within me.
I hunger for light.
Light of God, living water,
heal me, refresh me,
make me new.
Annie Heppenstall-West
Thursday December 2, 2010
From Candles and Conifers
The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love. So, what
happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a Savior has somehow
turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.
And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will
take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really
want out of Christmas? What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?
Welcome to Advent Conspiracy, a movement calling us to proclaim Christ in how we
celebrate Christmas.
From 'The Advent Conspiracy'
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
Friday December 3, 2010
The World is Created Globe Genesis 1:24-28
Adam and Eve Snake and Apples Genesis 3:1-24
Noah and the Flood Rainbow Genesis 6:11-22; 86-12; 9:11-17
Abraham Camel Genesis 12:1-7:13:2-18; 18:1
Sarah Baby Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7
Isaac Ram Genesis 22:1-14
Jacob Ladder Genesis 27:41-28:22
Joseph Multicolored Coat Genesis 37:1-36
Moses Burning Bush Exodus 3:1-10
Miriam Tambourine Exodus 15:19-21
Samuel Lamp 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Jesse Branch Isaiah 11:1
David Harp 1 Samuel 16:14-23
Solomon Crown 1 Kings 3:3-28
Isaiah Throne Isaiah 6:1-8
Jeremiah Tablets of Law Jeremiah 31:31-34
Angels Angel Hebrews 1:1-14
Malachi Trumpet Malachi 3:1-4
Zechariah and Elizabeth Baby - Luke 1:39-45
Mary Angel Luke 1:29-35
John the Baptist River Matthew 3:1-6
Joseph of Nazareth Hammer/Saw Matthew 1:18-25
Bethlehem Star Matthew 2:1-12
Birth of Christ Crib Luke 2:1-7
Jesse Tree Symbols
Saturday December 4, 2010
This is a season of expectation and Advent hymns tell me what gift I can expect during
Advent and Christmas.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child, and yet a king,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788), 1744
Rejoice believers
And let your lights appear
Our hope and excitation
Let every heart prepare a throne and let every voice sing
Christ is nigh.
And Mary Said
I m bursting with God- news,
I’m dancing with the song of my Savior God
Rejoice; rejoice over the Gift of Advent
Jesus is the Light
The Light in the Life
Jesus is Gods supreme Gift to his world
Rejoice and give thanks Rejoice
Marilyn Reardon