Archive for November, 2009
Advent Week 1
Posted by: | Comments“A Child Will Be Born To Us”
Isaiah 9:2-6
The people walking in darkness
Have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of the shadow of death
A light has dawned…
For to us a child is born,
To us a son is given,
And the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope (or in some traditions, Prophecy). This draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of a Messiah, which weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history. As God’s people were abused by power-hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and lulled into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, there arose a longing among some for God to raise up a new king who could show them how to be God’s people. They yearned for a return of God’s dynamic presence in their midst. And so, God revealed to some of the prophets that indeed He would not leave His people without a true Shepherd. While they expected a new earthly king, their expectations fell far short of God’s revelation of Himself in Christ. And yet, the world is not yet fully redeemed. So, we again with expectation, with hope, await God’s new work in history, the second Advent, in which He will again reveal Himself to the world.
And we understand in a profound sense that the best, the highest of our expectations will fall far short of what our Lord’s Second Advent will reveal!
Advent Prayer
Lord Jesus,
We thank You for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. As we enter the Christmas season, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness. As You sent Your messengers the prophets to prepare the way of salvation, may we prepare traditions that nurture our spiritual lives and celebrate the dawning of Your everlasting light. In Your name we pray. Amen
Bible Readings
The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Each week, we will provide daily Bible readings for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Genesis 1:26-31–The Creator of Man
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Genesis 3:1-24—The Fall of Man
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Genesis 3:15—Promise of Redemption
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Deuteronomy 18:15-19—A Prophet Will Come
Friday, December 4, 2009
Isaiah 7:10-14—A Virgin With Child
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Isaiah 11:1-5—A Righteous Judge
The Advent Wreath
Posted by: | CommentsThe Advent Wreath is the widely recognized symbol of Advent. The wreath is made of a circle of evergreen branches laid flat to symbolize the endless nature of God’s love for his people. Four candles stand in the circle. Traditionally, three of the candles are purple, and the fourth one, the “Joy” candle, is pink. One candle is lit during the first week of Advent, two during the second week, three during the third, and four during the fourth week. The candles remind us of the light of God coming into the world, and the light from the candles grows brighter as each week comes closer to Christmas.
The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity, and endless mercy, which have no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The light of the candles itself becomes an important symbol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world, which comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the various aspects of our waiting experience. The lighting of the candles during the four-week period also symbolizes the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding, and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed into the world. The flame of each new candle reminds the worshippers that something is happening, and that more is yet to come. Finally, the light that has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lighted on Christmas Eve, and worshippers rejoice that the promise of long ago has been realized.
What is Advent?
Posted by: | CommentsAdvent is the season four weeks before Christmas during which we prepare for the coming of Christ. The season proclaims Christ’s anticipated coming again in the fullness of time, as well as the coming of Christ as infant Savior whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus and means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in His First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000-year- old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Because the season emphasizes Christ’s comings and not merely His birth, it is not enough to use the season merely as a preparation for Christmas. Instead, the time is appropriate for preparation for the second coming of Christ and the inward soul searching that should mark that preparation.
In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live “between the times” and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s “in-breaking” into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which “all creation is groaning, awaiting its redemption,” it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
Advent is a season full of promise and rejoicing in the comings of the King, but it is also a time that marks the coming of judgment. This judgment will come first on the house of God and then on the world. So, while there is great promise in the Advent, there is also a somber tone as the theme of threat is added to the theme of promise. This is reflected in some of the readings for Advent, in which there is a strong prophetic tone of accountability and judgment on sin. But this is also faithful to the role of the Coming King, who comes to rule, save, and judge the world.
The spirit of Advent is expressed well in the parable of the bridesmaids who are anxiously awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom. There is profound joy at the Bridegroom’s expected coming. And yet a warning of the need for preparation echoes through the parable. But, even then, the prayer of Advent is still:
Come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel!
Telling the Story
Posted by: | CommentsWell, this is the intro to Antioch Anthology. The goal is to create a forum for telling the story of Antioch Church, linking you to info on Antioch, sharing the thoughts and musings of Antioch leaders and discovering new ideas on being a part of God’s story.
I hope that you will check it out as we build from here.