Introduction to Advent
by Ken Wilson
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing…A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)
God created, respects, and blesses rhythms of time. Beginning with day & night; He commanded a Sabbath day of rest every seven; planting & harvest marked as holy. Key events of the nations history with God were celebrated with festivals…
As Israel's light dawned on the nations through the gospel, a certain freedom in marking of time came with it. Holy days of Israel not imposed. But patterns in time continued: Prayers to welcome day & night; A day of rest to gather for worship; Easter celebrated early on linked as it was to Passover; Laterm celebration of Jesus birth became widespread, natural in societies that celebrated birthdays.
Not compulsory that we keep these rhythms. But we live in a world that wants to take over time, remove it from the realm of the sacred. Stores open 24/7 as if day-night were irrelevant. We've got America's Birthday, Mothers Day, Father's Day, Valentines Day keep Florists in business. Halloween for kids & candy makers. All good. (Christians should be the last people to get in the way of a good party.)
But also good to pay attention to seasons that bear his stamp:
Here's how it works, life story of Jesus and the church told through the calendar. Christmas recognizes his birth, celebrated for 12 days until Epiphany (visit of wise men). In early Spring, 40 Days of Lent remembers his 40 days in wilderness, leading to Good Friday (crucifixion) and Easter Sunday (resurrection) followed in 40 days the Ascension of Jesus, and 10 days later Pentecost the infusion of the Spirit. As the year ends, Advent season, anticipates the first and final comings of Jesus.
Advent comes from Latin adventus, translating the Greek, parousia, which means "presence" as opposed to "absence." Used in Roman Empire to refer to the emperor making a visit to one of his cities.
In NT, parousia-advent, has 3 historical referents: coming of Lord to Bethlehem as a baby; victorious appearing at his resurrection & ascension into heaven; the fulfillment of his prophecy regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple (which took place 70AD); Finally, an extended meaning, yet to occur: appearing of Jesus at the culmination of history to usher in the judgment and the reintegration of heaven and earth in a new creation…
Advent is a space carved out to contemplate mysteries--God appearing, breaking into time….is the ultimate mystery.
So there's a lot of weighty stuff packed into this word, Advent: coming, presence, arrival, appearing. Next week: second coming. After that, Olivet Discourse in the gospels, warning of coming crisis within a generation. Then we'll apply some advent wisdom to the current crisis that we're facing here and now. Ambitious Advent!
TUNING IN TO ADVENT MYSTERIES
Beef up your daily prayers. Jesus, Peter, Paul, everyone seems to say: prayer gets you ready and gets you through just about anything. "The end of all things is at hand, therefore be alert and sober so that you may pray" (1 Peter 4: 7)
Eight years ago, moving back to A2, purchase-renovation this facility. Stress load exceeded prayer life. Had to find some new ways to pray, not just in the morning, but through the day, where the stress was.
I discovered biblical pattern of praying at intervals through the day--like in book of Acts, gathered at 9 for morning prayers; Peter went to roof at Joppa for noon time prayers: brief times of prayer through the day kept the worry dog at bay because times were tough back then.
So I gradually added Divine Hours to my day: morning, bedtime, mid-day, after work.
Enjoyed Divine Hours because it is based on the psalms and bite sized portions of Scripture, which lends itself to meditating on Scripture one of the best things you can do to renew your mind and your spirit.
Recommend you give it a try this Advent as a way to beef up your daily prayer, or to introduce daily prayer into your daily habits.
[Christmastide, in lobby]
Start with what you're already doing or not doing and bring it up a notch. Before bed, during your morning coffee, maybe add a calming five minutes of prayer when you get home from work.
During one of those times, whichever suits, take a line from Psalm, or reading and mull it over. In Heb. "meditate" means murmur. Talking to yourself. Mull over a phrase, a line, a word, let it sink in to you, let yourself sink into the words. [Select from night prayers Sunday]
Young children at home? Try This is What I Pray Today
[Advent calendars fun for kids to mark each day of advent…]
Already tried TDH and it's not your cup of tea? No problem, there's other things to warm your soul. Advent is about living wisely in the present in light of the future: read through the Proverbs.
Beef up Church Wide Prayers. A challenging mission--reach heart of A2 area, University, secular leaning heart. Sponsoring Friendship Collaborative at UM. A dozen environmental scientist from UM and a dozen evangelical leaders to build a bridge of understanding. Nothing quite like this has happened before.
We're in challenging times. Jobs in auto industry. Single moms laid off. Milan, gave away 16,500 pounds of food on Saturday to 160 families, double normal. The needs of our single moms ministry increasing, homeless ministry, youth, children, yet resources tight.
Greater needs, tighter resources--that gap can only be filled by greater generosity from those who are able…a work of Spirit.
So…let's bear each other's burdens in prayer.
"The end of all things is at hand; be ye sober and watch unto prayer"
(1 Peter 4: 7 KJV)
To stay safe, communities need those who "keep watch"--posting guards who keep watch against intrusion, wild animals, warring neighbors, enemy armies. [stay alert, while others go about business]
"Be alert and sober. Your enemy the devil prowls, seeking whom he may devour" (1 peter 5: 8)
Prayer is a how we "keep watch": take your turn keeping watch
during advent for the life of the church-community
In your daily prayers, remember needs of our church community
Morning: missions Noon justice-compassion;
Evening financial distress Night spread of gospel locally
24-Hour Prayer Watch: Saturday Dec. 6 9am thru Sunday 9am. 24 hours--church set aside to come when you can to sit quietly in the sanctuary [various prayer stations] To "keep watch" in prayer.
To lift up your own needs, needs of others, needs of our church….
Advent Candle Lighting Prayer: as family observance, or if you have roommates. Small Group. Booklets in Lobby.
There's power when we set aside seasons to beef up prayer. It lifts the water level for all of us. Makes the celebration of Christmas more meaningful. Life is a struggle, a battle at times, and it's a way to engage the struggle with God.
We've got some tough times ahead. A time for the church to shine, not hunker down, grow dim.
We've had lots of bad news lately; our job is to be good news….
Single Moms Christmas Blessing Sharing
Homeless Thanksgiving Party Sharing