Third Sunday in Advent

The Candle of Peace.

This candle reminds us that Jesus comes to bring Peace into our hearts and into the world.

'And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Luke Ch 1 v 76-79

Today I was sent for in a panic by the Sunday School Teacher part way through the Service, so I missed the Sermon.

The Tax-collector and Angel Gabriel were refusing point blank to take part in the Nativity, the teenage helper was trying to oust 'Elizabeth' and play her herself, two older Shepherds had told the younger Shepherds that they had to be sheep and they were lustily rebelling, and Joseph was refusing to dress the part for the day...I guess I was the riot police?

There were only eleven children in the room but tempers were high! Lengthy negotiations followed and all was sorted by the time parents came to retrieve their off-spring. Actually it was all quite surreal...but a regular part of Christmas for many of us I guess! (One year we had a Wise Man and all he would say was 'Moo!')

I've often thought that nothing demonstrates the Lord's humour better than the fact that He allows the Nativity to be re-enacted year after year down the centuries. And such is His power that even through the histrionics and disasters, His love and compassion for us still shine through.

What a God we have!

2nd Sunday in Advent

The Candle of the Way

The candle lit on the second Sunday in Advent is to symbolise that Christ is The Way. As Christians, we are lost in sin so Christ is the Light, sent to us to show us the way out of darkness.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John Ch 14 v6)

Today the Dean spoke on Malachi Ch3 v1-14:

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiners fire or a launderer's soap...men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Several years ago the Dean took his then youth group to visit the Royal Mint in Cardiff. He described being taken through the process from the refining of base metal into pure, cutting the blank coins until the final image was stamped on them and they were fit for use. It was fascinating to see, but it also gave an insight into the process God uses to render us fit for His use.

Advent, as a season of penitence, allows us to look at the impurities in our lives and allow God to skim them away. Only then can He put His stamp on us, the symbol of our Heavenly Monarch. Malachi longed to see the people of God being a pure, holy, effective witness for Him since the only way that the lost can see Jesus is in us.

Not much has changed really, has it?

Advent 2009 Begins

Today is the first Sunday in Advent, the beginning of the new Church Year and a time of anticipation. Our Minister takes Advent each year as a time to assess where we are- to look back at what we have achieved in the year gone by, look forward to what we need to do to improve anything for the future, and to give thanks for where we are right now. We have mid-week Services in different Churches around the Parish which are lovely calm times in the presence of our God and separate to the hurly-burly which the World calls Christmas. For me, in Advent the Church buildings become once more, a haven of tranquil contemplation.

Having an Advent Wreath in Church is not traditional for us, but it helps to think about what it symbolises so each Sunday in Advent two children light another of the candles. Last year one of them almost set the Dean's surplice alight but luckily he can move fast! (all those years of playing rugby I should think!)

The First Candle symbolises Hope, the Hope we have in Christ as well as the Hope the Prophets had in their prophecies of the Messiah.

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah Ch 60 v 1-3

Just as a footnote, this is our traditional way of counting off the days in Advent.

Much as we enjoy Advent Calendars, gift boxes and wreaths, this is the way we do it, usually lighting the candle at supper time when we are all sitting at the table. When the candle burns down to the pin it begins to tilt and it is blown out for another day. To me nothing beats the excitement of watching the candle burn down to the pin!

When you sit watching a candle you can see why the Church used to pagan symbolism of a Lamp for the birth of Jesus, Light of the World. You can also see why so many faiths have Celebrations of Light, Diwali I know from East Africa, but Light in all its symbolism is important to everyone.

I wish the Hope of Advent to you all this week.

In Timeless Treasures I am putting up a Jesse Tree. Please visit?