The Advent Web.
If anyone would like to submit a SHORT 'thought for the day' in Advent.for use next year - with a brief indication of where you are from, we will be very pleased wherever possible,to use it.Many thanks. David.
Sunday 28th.November Advent Sunday
The lighting of the first candle
.We light this candle as a symbol of all God's people who in every generation have watched for the coming of Christ. We remember those of our number and those who have gone before us who have shone for Christ and revealed his presence.
The light shines in the darkeness, and the darkness has never put it out.
Remember any uncertainty and confusion in which you may have floundered, and give thanks for the light.
Monday 29th November
'Advent... comes from the Latin meaning "to come before", and is a good time to make preparations for Christmas.. , but what if we could look at advent as advent-ure? Would this help to concentrate our minds and bring enthusiasm and zeal to our preparations?.... For Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men, it was only as they embarked on a journey, an adventure of faith as we might call it, that the coming of Jesus made all the difference to their lives.'
Tuesday 30th.It struck me recently that just one letter needs to be changed in the word "Advent" to point to what it really means. Change the "n" to an "r", the advent worship makes a wonderful advert for Christmas, but do you and I? "Lord, help me to live my life so that in all I do I point towards you". Amen. The Revd. Martin Turner. Superintendent Minister, Westminster Central Hall.
Wednesday 1st December It's interesting to note that in the Christian Year, the colour for this season is violet or purple - the same as during Lent. the early church saw the season of Advent as a time for making a new beginning. At such a time we should be prayerful and vigilant - even prayer and fasting was to be observed so that one's senses could be sharpened, and that we might be more alert and ready to learn new truth and discover new things about God.DM.
Thursday 2nd.
Transformation comes about with Hope..
Giving may cost,not necessarily in money, but certainly in sharing love.
Will Wakefield, Chief Executive, YMCA, Nottingham
Friday 3rd. Almighty God, we need the true light that comes into the world. Help us to see ourselves refelcted in that light, so that we may truly show others the way to Him
Saturday 4th
Sunday 5th.In lighting the second candle, we give thanks for the prophets, who pointed to God's coming amongst his people, and so by the light they shed, guided them into the ways of truth and understanding.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
Remember your journey; and those who have inspired you and led you, especially when the way was hardest, and give thanks for the light.
Monday 6th Whilst we were waiting for our first grandchild to arrive, we tried to do as many routine jobs as we could beforehand. So that when the time of arrival came, we would be free to drop everything and go, and see.
Part of our preparation for the coming of Christ is to see that as many of the routine tasks that we have to do are fulfilled, so that we may be truly ready
. Tuesday 7th Lynda and John Hatton from St. John's Methodist Church, Nottingham,found this short piece in ' Praying with Juniors' by Jack & Edna Young Published 1968.
Without light,No sight !
Without Jesus,
No Christmas !
May we go, with hearts aglow
On willing feet, our Lord to greet
This Christmas.
Wednesday 8th
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessèd are those who will come from east and west, from north and south, to feast in the kingdom of God.
(Holy Communion for Advent - Methodist Worship book).
Thursday 9th. Christ comes to our lives like a shooting star. Unexpectedly he brings light into dark places - showing up our weaknesses for a moment - just giving us enough light to show us the way.
Friday 10th My favourite Advent hymn is Charles Wesley's 'Lo he comes with clouds descending.' Do we experience and think enough about 'the transcendent,' and the greatness of God in Jesus coming into human affairs today?
Saturday 11th 'One of my uppermost thoughts in Advent is for the people of Bethlehem who continue to experience hardship and restrictions and for whom Christmas promises little political happiness. Let us remember all those who are working for peace with justice in the Holy Land.
The "Christian Aid" prayer continues to be helpful:
Sunday 12th.
Monday 13th.' The third candle is for John the Baptist, an outstanding beacon for God's kingdom. He helped prepare people for the coming of Jesus and the enlightened way of living that he embodied.
The light shines in the darkness, and darkness has never put it out
Remember not why, but how and when you have been blessed, and give thanks for the light.
Waiting and longing cannot be separated from each other, and we can also add 'hoping' to this list. We find this not only in people's waiting for the coming of a Messiah, but also after his coming too.The disciples on the road to Emmaus were hoping for instance that Christ would be the one 'who had come to redeem Israel.' It was in expressing their hope that they recognised him.
Tuesday 14th.There can be an element of anger in waiting.' Why have we waited all this long?' we may say. But anger is turned to joy when the time of fulfilment comes. When we have to wait a long time ourselves for something to happen, we can gain a great deal more empathy towards those who are still waiting. How patient are we with people who wait.
Wednesday 15th. Jesus came in the fullness of time.'Give us patience too,O Lord, to do things in the order and at the time that they are intended.'
Thursday 16th'Stillness' is part of the experience of advent. 'How silently, the wondrous gift is given.' Can 'silence' and 'stillness' really be separated?
Friday 17th.Christianity is a mixture of 'unhurriedness' on the one hand, and 'urgency' on the other: unhurredness in the sense that God has all things in his hands - Christ comes in the fullness of time - at the point where 'time and eternity meet.'
Life also has to be lived a with sense of urgency, so that whilst due consideration is given to all things that matter, we do not delay.' For the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.'
Saturday 18th.The scriptures in the older versions, often say ' And it came to pass.' When I visualise these words, I think of a camel or some other convoy crossing a landscape - coming and going, appearing and then disappearing from view. People are like this too, for 'All the world's a stage, and we the actors in it.'
There was however, one coming of greater significance than any other. The coming of Jesus.
He comes on the human scene for a rather limited time, but with what great purpose!
Sunday 19th. The fourth candle (4th Sunday) is for Mary- a shining example of obedience and trust. She showed great joy for that which she had been given and great humility in responding to God's call.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
Remember when you have been bold to express Christ's way, in word or action, and give thanks for the light.
Monday 20th
Graeme Thompson sends the following poem, from 'a certain E. Miller' :
Tuesday 21st."Mary was gentle and loving,
And she pondered on the meaning of the infant Jesus coming,
To a world so unbelieving.
Very few knew of His coming.
They were faithful and believing,
That the Son of God was coming:
They were anxiously preparing.
The second part of the poem submitted (printed source unknown) reads
G. Thompson. Local preacher in Nottingham.UK.Let our Christmas come with meaning;
Advent be our own preparing.
Let us be gentle and loving as one part of our believing.
Not an infant are we seeking,
But a Saviour of the living.
The one who gives a blessing to all who come believing.
In the splendour of our praising,
When we worship with rejoicing,
Let us pray that our adoring,
Will start the Christmas bells a 'ringing'."
Wednesday 22nd.'Living Lord, we greet your coming. You have come to us in the past - in inspiration, in revelation and in power. Come, Lord as we worship. Come as a living flame and burn in our hearts. Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.'
Thursday 23rd. We wait once more O Lord, for our celebration of your coming. We wait, once more, to celebrate the Hour of Grace. For in spite of all our failures and weaknesses, you come O Lord, to all who will accept you and see their need.
CHRISTMAS EVE A well known carol prepares us to celebrate -
Silent night,holy night
Son of God, O how bright!
Love is smiling from thy face!
Strikes for us now the Hour of Grace,
Saviour since thou art born!
CHRISTMAS DAY.. A very Happy Christmas, and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.
.