Posts Tagged ‘Advent’

Advent 2009

About Advent

• Old Testament reflection: Malachi 3:1-4
• New Testament reflection: Luke 1:46-55

1. Fasting. During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, our cultural norm is self-indulgence. One way to refocus your life around “waiting” is to fast from certain foods or certain things. For instance, fasting from meat allows us to think first before we eat, or fasting from sweets allows us to wait for the day of celebration when Christ is born–when he is born, eat cake!
2. Decorations. In anticipation of Christ’s birth, consider decorating your house for this glorious day of celebration on Christmas Eve. Wait to celebrate. For Advent, consider decorating your kitchen table with purple, pink, and/or blue.
3. Raid your closet and give stuff away. We get so many new things on Christmas Day. In anticipation of that day of celebration, let’s raid our closets and give some stuff (still in great condition) to the poor. Give stuff that away that you haven’t used for 6 months. Give blankets and warm clothes to the homeless.
4. Advent Calendar. Buy an Advent calendar and fill it with treats, Scripture passages, and small gifts. Each day open a door and enjoy what’s inside.
5. Advent Wreath. By far, one of the most common traditions. One night a week, follow the Advent readings and light a candle on the wreath. The Scriptures remind us of our waiting. If you have children, have them assist you. Each week one more candle is lit until you reach the wonderful day of Christ’s birth.

Highlight(s) of the week:

1. We spent New Year’s Eve with a few friends of ours, playing Rock Band and discussing schooling for children (I know, it was late). We had a nice time. It was nice hanging out with people within the same age range.
2. We went skiing at Bear Creek with my family. One injury. Not too bad. I didn’t fall at all, but then again, I’m not necessarily hitting up the black diamond hills. Giselle didn’t go on the hills, but she hung out with my mom in the lodge.
3. My in-laws bought Wii Fit. So, Amanda and I have been bonding over that. I had recently lost some weight, and I thought I was doing awesome. But Wii Fit told me I was “obese “(!). Talk about a killjoy! In fairness to me, I did just eat and had two beers so I think was a little full. I did it the next day, and I was “overweight.” After being told I was obese, I can live with being overweight.
4. E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles! First victim - the Vikings. Next opponent, the Giants (notice, I didn’t say “victim” because I’m not that cocky).
5. Overall, Advent and Christmas seasons were beneficial times for me and my family. Amanda and I had some really wonderful times together, so I’m going to miss have all that time to spend together.

Book(s) I’m reading:

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) Family Christmas party at the Cock & Bull in Peddler’s Village this past Sunday. (2) Amanda and I were able to hang out with Jon (brother) & Katie (his fiance) and Phil (brother) & Arielle (girlfriend) afterward at TGI Friday’s. (3) Both Amanda and I are now off from work for Christmas break! (4) Another person and I did the Call to Worship at church on Sunday. It was a responsive “singing.” We read verses from Psalm 13 (How long? passages), and everyone responded by singing the lines “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. And ransom captive Israel.” Didn’t tell Todd we were going to do this ahead of time, but it actually fit into his sermon. Cool. (5) Won our fantasy football league saving me from paying someone else $60! Spanked Aaron 127-67 (at this point, unless his kicker can make up 60 points tonight. I’m calling it a win!).

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) Amanda and I took Giselle to get her pics with Santa (because we’re pagans like that). (2) We also had a chance to go to Longwood Gardens with our friends, Ron and Juli. (3) 3 semesters of my MDiv have been completed. 3 to go!

“1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born…”

-Matthew 2v1-4 TNIV

I had been reflecting on this verse in light of Charlie’s and my conversation about Obama’s possible Department of Peace and Non-Violence. I took one side of the argument, that is, don’t trust the D of P & N but trust Jesus, the author of true peace. I still agree with this, and I think Charlie does, too (?).

I would also like to add another point to the conversation, that is, there have been times in the history of God’s people that the “outsiders” had to remind the “insiders” what they are looking for. During Advent, we are looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ first coming and his second. Perhaps, much like the Magi, who reminded the Jews that they should’ve been looking for the true King of the Jews (where they had trusted other things to save them), we, as Christians, could be reminded that we too should’ve been working for Peace and Non-Violence.

You can almost see the look on the face of the people in Matthew chapter 2. They were disturbed (!) by what they heard. “Uhh…where was that Messiah guy supposed to be born? Oh yes! That’s right - Bethlehem. We forgot.” Perhaps, they were troubled because they forgot? Perhaps, they were troubled because it took these pagan magi to remind them?

Either way, we could learn from them - sometimes it takes our “Gentile magi” (in this case, those proposing the DP&N?) to remind Christians that we should’ve been working for peace and non-violence, but instead, we were too busy looking and placing our trust elsewhere.

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) Giselle started to crawl this week! She is slightly unorthodox in her approach; oftentimes, going sideways, but it is exciting. (2) We made it one week meat- and dessert-less for our Advent fast. Our family has really been enjoying Advent together. We also bought an Advent calendar house yesterday. Not sure what to fill it with yet. Any suggestions?

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

-James 5v7-9 TNIV

As my wife, daughter, and I have been observing Advent, lighting the candle(s) have been a highlight for us. We plan to do it only on Sundays, the beginning of the week, but others choose differently (to each his own, right?). However, I’ve been finding that I have been anxious to light the next candle. But I have to wait. I can’t just jump ahead and light the next candle - it’s just not the proper way to do it! Otherwise, if I did so, I would have lit all of the candles already, and it wouldn’t even be Christmas yet.

I am anxious, but I have to wait patiently…and that’s the point, isn’t it?

Aren’t we waiting patiently for Christ to come again? We can’t just jump ahead in the story. We have to wait, and we have to wait patiently. We can’t make Christmas come any faster by lighting the candles, and we can’t make Christ come back any faster either. We must wait.

So, what can we do? Pray and pray patiently. Celebrate and celebrate patiently. Worship and worship patiently. Mourn and mourn patiently. Rejoice and rejoice patiently. Serve and serve patiently. Give and give patiently.

Wait and wait patiently.

v. 2.0 of Advent resources (#6 & 7)

As Amanda and I (and Giselle) have been observing Advent, I have been searching around for specific Advent resources. I’ve found a few that I really appreciate.

1. Christianity Today has created its own Advent calendar. Click the link at the bottom, and it takes you a prayer/verse for the day.
2. The Church of England made a video Advent calendar. It’s a good contemporary way of doing it that supports the idea of “waiting,” which we aren’t very good at anymore. Good for them though!
3. Everyday Liturgy is providing an Advent poem every day through the season. A very creative way of reflecting on the time.
4. Advent08 iPhone app. You need $.99 and an iPhone/iTouch, but, if you have that, I recommend it. I provides readings and prayers for each day.
5. You can always make your own Advent wreath. If I thought about it before, I would have done this. Do it yourself here.
6. I’m a little late on this one, but Advent Conspiracy is a wonderful way to observe Christmas differently by having a mindset of giving more and spending less. To a non-creative American like myself, the question is, “How can I spend less but give more?” Check it out.
7. Diana Butler Bass shares her Advent calendar with you, and her reflections for each door she opens each day.

I hope to add more later, but I think this could get you on the right track. If you are looking for something simple, always check out this site.

As many of us have seen the bloodshed from the terrorist attacks in India, let us pray that the Indian government makes wise, well-thought-out decisions. During the first week of Advent, we pray for hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. The following weeks we pray for (2) love, (3) joy, and (4) peace. As we think about Christ’s coming as a small, peaceful, innocent child, think about his life, and wait patiently for his second appearing, let us pray that such things as hope, love, joy, and peace (not bitterness, anger, hatred, and resentment) will be at the forefront of our minds, and the minds of the leaders in India.

[Jim Wallis stirred this thought in me to pray for India.]

As Amanda and I (and Giselle) have been observing Advent, I have been searching around for specific Advent resources. I’ve found a few that I really appreciate.

1. Christianity Today has created its own Advent calendar. Click the link at the bottom, and it takes you a prayer/verse for the day.
2. The Church of England made a video Advent calendar. It’s a good contemporary way of doing it that supports the idea of “waiting,” which we aren’t very good at anymore. Good for them though!
3. Everyday Liturgy is providing an Advent poem every day through the season. A very creative way of reflecting on the time.
4. Advent08 iPhone app. You need $.99 and an iPhone/iTouch, but, if you have that, I recommend it. I provides readings and prayers for each day.
5. You can always make your own Advent wreath. If I thought about it before, I would have done this. Do it yourself here.

I hope to add more later, but I think this could get you on the right track. If you are looking for something simple, always check out this site.