Preparing Our Hearts for Advent
November 29, 2007
For most of us, the weeks between Football Day (also known as Thanksgiving) and Present Day (also known as Christmas) are spent in a frenzied rush of consumerism - we salivate over the ads and feast on what they offer like Dracula in a room of virgins. This, of course, is interrupted only by the cringing that accompanies every Diva’s rendition of “O Holy Night” brought to us by our local Lite Music Station (usually called Star, Kiss, or Crap one-o-something). Ooooo—OOO–HHH NIIIIIiiiiiiIIIIGHT!!!! Deeeee-EEEEEE-VIIIIIAYYYYYYYYYNE, Oooooohhhhoooohooohooooh Night… (works better than ipecac, peoples).
But there is more to these next few weeks, as this Sunday marks the beginning of Advent (unless your name is Tim Barton - and then it may/may not mark the beginning of Timvent). Advent is the church season where we prepare our hearts to receive King Jesus (Advent means “coming). Advent is a “penitential” season, a time where we (the church) have traditionally spent time repenting, turning our hearts to God, and pouring out our longings and doubts and fears to Him. Traditionally there have been extra services and reading associated with Advent and your church or churches in your community will probably be marking the season with different kinds of music and candles in their services.
What are we looking forward to?
On one hand we are standing in solidarity with the Saints of Old Testament Church who anxiously awaited the coming of the Messiah (his First Advent) who would be the savior of His people. We place ourselves in their shoes, with the knowledge that we have on this side of Jesus’ earthly ministry, wondering at how God would become incarnate for our sakes. We anticipate the celebration of Christmas (the time when we traditionally celebrate the Incarnation and Jesus’ birth).
On the other hand we are waiting for Jesus’ glorious return (his Second Advent) when He will judge the living and the dead and all redemption will find its fulfillment. We reflect on the solemnity of that judgment and take time to thank Jesus for bearing the cost of our sin and to understand just what we have been and are being saved from. This is an excellent opportunity for us to return to a healthy view of human depravity (we are great sinners, but Christ is a greater savior).
Ideas for Advent
Some of us use Advent Wreaths (a set of candles) to mark out the weeks and accompany this with a short household worship time. Others only participate in church worship services. I’d like to invite you to bring Advent into your homes and your hearts. Here are some ideas on how to use Advent to prepare for Christmas:
Making a “Jesse Tree” and Readings for every day of Advent
Advent & Christmas Prayers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer
This time of year can be so harried and focused on buying and selling…why not set aside a little time to reflect on all that Jesus is, the hope of all the world.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain
O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain
Author Unknown
Translated from the 12th Cen
Posted in Uncategorized
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December 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
hi. just wanted to say: hope y’all are well in Seattle! I made reference to this post (the heading and picture) at our confirmation class tonight. (We were talking about seasons of the church year) just wanted to give credit where it’s due. Plus, you didn’t get any comments on this post, but I think it’s a good one…and a good reminder of what the season is “preparing us for.” Hopefully not just cramming our lives full of more made-in-china petroleum based products that are 88 cents a piece…
December 5th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Thanks Kendra - one thing that just stands out to me in that pic is how clearly it shows that the idol of consumption knows no socio-economic boundary…where else will you clearly see rich and poor, black, white, asian all pursuing after the same thing with the same fervor? We will lay everything (including human dignity) at our idol’s feet.
I gotta say - it’s an idol I continually visit. And that is why Advent is so important to me during “Christmastime”. Without it, it would be so difficult to come back to reality.