Advent has begun...

Here is some of the thoughts I've been collecting over Thanksgiving break. Most of what follows is not my own, but I'm sure the authors are more concerned with telling the story than with credit. I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Explanation:
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance (Rom 8:18-25).
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. Preparation for his Second Coming includes penitence, watching, and praying.

Prayer:
O, Holy Spirit, blow on the embers of my soul and reignite your baptismal love in the fireplace of my being. May I become your fire in a cold, indifferent world. Impassion my spirit; enkindle my heart.

Practice:
The Church Calendar starts with Advent. This is the beginning of the new year. Here is a version of the traditional progression. Each group is waiting for the Messiah. You could take these readings and celebrate right in your own home or with some friends. Light a candle every week for each group.

Prophets
- Gold candle
- Is. 9:2-7
- Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Charles Wesley)
- I heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Henry Longfellow)
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Angles
- White Candle
- Luke 2:8-14 / 1 Timothy 3:16
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
- Hark the Herald Angles Sing
- While Shepherds Watch Their Flock By Night
- Rarely do we give much thought as to what the Nativity meant to the angels. The phrase “was seen by angels” in 1 Timothy 3:16 invites us to view the whole of the Christmas story from the perspective of the angels.

Shepherds
- Green Candle
- Luke 2:15-20
- Angles from the Realms of Glory
- Go Tell It on the Mountain
- Angles We Have Heard On High
- How Great Our Joy (German Carol)
- Shepherds were on the lowest rung of society. But they exemplified how the Savior of the world would treat his people.

Magi
- Blue Candle
- Mathew 2:1-12
- Angles from the Realms of Glory
- We Three Kings
- The First Noel
- As With Gladness Men of Old

Parents
- Matthew 1:18-25 / Luke 1:26-38
- What Child is This?
- Away In a Manger
- Most people know who Joseph was in the Christmas story. But most don’t know him very well. What you might not know is that Christmas cost Joseph a great deal.
- From one generation to another, Mary has been known as the mother of God. What was God doing, and why did he choose Mary to do it?

Savior
- Red Candle
- Luke 2:25-32
- Joy To the World

What have you been coming up with? Tell me some stories about what you have done or what you plan to do this year.