Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (7)
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10 (8) or Luke 1:46b-55 (47)
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 (7)
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

So, again we begin our advent journey here, with the prophecy candle.  The turkey is cleared and in my house the tree is up.  Christmas shopping has started and, though it is still four weeks away, it’s now time to look ahead to Christmas.  This year there’s more to look forward to at my house, in the Spring Jamie and I will be married, and if I thought Advent was a long time to wait, wedding waiting is forever.

Whatever you’re waiting for, remember God is with you watching for all of us.  He’s here now and at the end of the wait he’ll be there too.

Readings (ELCA Lectionary)

Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122 (1)
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

Readings (ELCA Lectionary)

December 6, 2009
Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9
Luke 1:68-79 (78)
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6

Reflections

The Upper Room

The Upper Room Online

The Uncluttered Heart

The second candle on the advent wreath is sometimes called the Bethlehem candle, and while I don’t expect to ever go to Bethlehem myself, I think most people have a place they associate with Christmas.  For me it’s my Aunt Irene’s house in North Tonawanda.  Aunt Irene’s house has for me always seemed just a little magical, maybe it’s her collection of gnomes on top of the TV, or maybe it’s the gigantic stuffed panther on the guest bed set out for me, or maybe it’s just the refinement that a house acquires over years of use.  We only celebrated there perhaps five times before a close encounter of the snow bank kind convinced us to visit upstate New York in warmer weather, but when I think of where Christmas is I think it will always be that house.

Thessalonians 3:9

The advent wreath is to me the third symbol of Christmas; first there is the tree, up first and up longest, then the manger up last, but perhaps most important, and then the wreath.  The four candles that my Mom put out every year and called the family together each Sunday evening in December, to talk a little, read a little, and sing a song or two.  The advent wreaths were different each year, but the tradition was the same.  Every Sunday in December at some point my Mom would tell  us how the day was going to go, “first we’ll go to church, then eat, and later we’ll do the advent wreath.”  Sometimes it was an interruption, a few minutes stolen from homework or holiday activities and sometimes it was just one activity among many, but always we had the wreath and our family advent time.

Looking for advent dedications I found out more about the wreath.  Like many Christmas traditions no one is exactly sure where it came from, some say it is as recent as the 19th century, others that it dates back to the 16th century or even earlier as a pre-christian tradition for the solstice.  The circle of evergreens symbolizes eternal life and rebirth, while the four candles count down the waiting of Advent, the four Sundays at the beginning of the church year where, we look forward to the birth of Christ even while we know he is still with us.

Sources

What is an Advent wreath?

Advent wreath

Tomorrow’s Reading (Compliments of Pastor Mary Forell)

Thessalonians 3:12

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10 (1)
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36

Reflections

The Upper Room

The Uncluttered Heart

The first Sunday of advent is the beginning of Christmas for me, if the tree isn’t up already, it’s time, and if it is this is the first time to sit down with family, read a reflection, sing a song and enjoy the peace that will become ever so precious as the holiday season picks up speed.  The first candle is the prophecy candle, and the readings this week usually focus on John the Baptist, crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.  As it burns alone surrounded by unlit candles it is like a prophet crying in the wilderness itself, heralding the greater lights of Christmas to come.

This blog will be a collection of advent stories and resources from all over the web for you to use in your celebration of advent.  I am a Lutheran attending at St. Matthew Trinity in Hoboken, but this blog will not be limited to any particular denomination.