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Observe Advent (Day 13): Fasting

expatminister — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:26:03 +0000

For most of the preceding centuries, fasting was an important part of Christian life and faith. Recognizing that ultimate goodness is found in God, not in satisfying bodily desires — and that consumption is not a significant mode of spiritual life in God. It was recognized as an important component of

Fasting was one of the handful of lifegiving spiritual practices named “means of grace” by John Wesley, and has recently regained some visibility in many parts of the Body of Christ. Advent’s original intention, as a time of preparation for the coming of Christ again, was a time of penitence and repentance.

I’m not suggesting we should break out self-flagellation and bodily abuse…but it would be beneficial to our spiritual lives and our common witness if we could somehow refrain from the decadence and consumption that marks too much of our preparations for Christmas Day. So let’s exercise some self-restraint (Fridays were universally recognized as a day of fasting) and refuse to shop–if not today, some day during Advent. Don’t go to the store. Don’t buy. Or spend a meal time in prayer, instead of feasting. Use the money to feed someone who otherwise wouldn’t eat. And understand that Christmas is not about receiving, but giving!

Observe Advent (Day 12): Clean

expatminister — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:06:22 +0000

“Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean;
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:8)

When we speak of becoming clean, it’s generally an allegory of God’s actions in removing sinfulness from our lives. Today, let’s reflect on purity and cleanliness by actually practicing it!

So grab a vacuum, mop, or leaf-blower and get to work around the house. Maybe some cars at your office need an impromptu cleaning–a bucket, soap, and some rags would go a long way towards an anonymous holiday gift of a clean car. Or do some laundry. Throw your own clothes in the washer, volunteer to help clean things that are being donated to a thrift store or distribution center…or try this. Head to a laundromat, spy someone who might be in need of a surprise, and arrange to pay for their washing & drying, on the down-low.

Cleanliness isn’t just about how white our linens are, or how to remove soil and stain from what we wear…if we can’t help our neighbors, then are we truly pure?

Observe Advent (Day 11): New

expatminister — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:17:19 +0000

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them…I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 42:9, 43:19)

So, I got a bagel today with strawberry creme cheese on.

You need to understand that’s a big step for me. While I like strawberries themselves, I generally don’t go in for strawberry-flavored things: ixnay on the strawberry ice cream, soda, frosting, etc.

But today, I said yes to the strawberriness. Because even though I have refused to let it pass my lips for…well…decades, it was for no good reason.

Sometimes our fear of doing something new has everything to do with getting out of our old patterns of behavior and into a place where we believe something new can happen. Advent calls us out of the deathly ways of doing things and into new life and faith.

And when I smother my bagel tomorrow with strawberry cream cheese, I might even eat it!

Observe Advent (Day 10): Silence

expatminister — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:33:25 +0000

Silence is necessary in order to hear God speak: for Abraham and Moses, Hannah and Deborah; for Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph. Today, turn off the music, slow down, quiet your heart and mind…and keep silence.

Observe Advent (Day 9): Poetry

expatminister — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:31:57 +0000

The best theology, the most refined reflections, the deepest piety, the most soaring praise — these all have an element of the poetic in them. If you don’t understand or can’t love poetry, then reading the Bible must be drudgery. Hear, then, three seasonal poems on the theme of the Incarnation. First, Christina Rossetti’s 1872 “In the Bleak Midwinter,” now set to music as a popular Christmas carol (though, sadly, with much of the deep theological content excised in most renditions).

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

Next, from across the pond, R S Thomas, the Welsh priest and poet, holds us in his gaze with “The Coming” (1978).

And God held in his hand
a small globe. Look he said.
The son looked. Far off,
as through water, he saw
a scorched land of fierce
colour. The light burned
there; crusted buildings
cast their shadows: a bright
serpent, a river
uncoiled itself, radiant
with slime.
On a bare
hill a bare tree saddened
the sky. Many people
held out their thin arms
to it, as though waiting
for a vanished April
to return to its crossed
boughs. The son watched
them. Let me go there, he said.

Finally, the haunting “Bethlehem Down.” Composed by Bruce Blunt and set in a haunting choral melody by Philip Arnold Heseltine, and submitted for the Daily Telegraph’s annual carol contest in 1927 (to finance a night-long drinking bout, no less). Needless to say, it won. (Download the song from iTunes)

“When he is King we will give him the Kings’ gifts,

Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,

Beautiful robes,” said the young girl to Joseph,

Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.

Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight —

Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,

Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music

Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.

When he is King they will clothe him in grave-sheets,

Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,

He that lies now in the white arms of Mary,

Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.

Here he has peace and a short while for dreaming,

Close-huddled oxen to keep him from cold,

Mary for love, and for lullaby music

Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.

Observe Advent (Day 8): Advent Wreath

expatminister — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:06:27 +0000

Perhaps the most recognizable Advent tradition is the Advent Wreath: greenery and four blue or purple candles ringing a central white candle that isn’t lit until Christmas Eve or Day. Often, the four candles/Sundays are identified with themes like love, hope, joy, and peace or prophets, shepherds, angels, and Mary.

It’s a wonderful tradition that you can participate in at home as well as in church as you count down the weeks until the Feast of the Nativity. Some families light candles each night with a scripture reading or song and a brief reflection–at the very least you could gather around each Sunday after lunch or at nightfall.

The Jesus Creed blog from Scot McKnight has some great liturgies that can be adapted weekly at church or home.

Observe Advent (Day 7): Decorate

expatminister — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:32:09 +0000

One of the best memories I have from childhood is of preparing for Christmas throughout the house. My family would make a big deal out of getting the Christmas tree from the box, dragging all the lights and ornaments out of the top of a closet, setting out nativity sets, and putting lights on the outside (some years!).

At church, things were no different — the Hanging of the Greens service the first Sunday night of Advent was hands-down my favorite of the whole year. The sanctuary was filled with greenery, the Christmas creche put into place, and symbols of expectation and Christ were prominently displayed, accompanied by carol-singing and Scripture-reading and a festive party.

If Advent is a time of preparation, we can spend the whole season making things ready, and that includes outward decorations that indicate our inward state. Candles and lights, trees and wreaths — they all have something to teach us and our families and friends if only we take the time to do it right. So spend some time today not just hanging something up or setting it out, but talking about its significance with the kids or neighbors, and be sure to decorate your interior space as richly as we do our trees and homes.

Observe Advent (Day 6): Conspiracy

expatminister — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:44:26 +0000

Substitute compassion for consumption.

That’s the idea behind the Advent Conspiracy, which encourages people and communities of faith to recommit to Christmas as a truly transformational season. [AC] partners with Living Water International to drill wells in areas that need it the most: to date, 340 wells that serve 200,000 people. I like several aspects of [AC]: anyone & any group can participate; it addresses a specific need; it offers comprehensive resources and support; and that it is rooted in a rich liturgical & biblical tradition.

It also simply addresses our Christmas mania with a 4-pronged approach: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All. Hard to find fault with any of these! So this season, I invite you to consider a way to connect personally with what Jesus came to do this, and give real life — living water — to those who need it most.

You can also follow @advntconspiracy and @livingwaterintl on Twitter; become a fan of [AC] and Living Water International on Facebook.

Friday emphases will focus on ways to support others during this season, in solidarity with the ancient tradition of fasting on the day Jesus gave himself up for us.

Observe Advent (Day 5): Time

expatminister — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:11:03 +0000

How do you keep track of time?

We all mark time: burning candles, water clocks, sundials, moon cycles, watches, pendulum clocks, cell phones. Ritual time is no different–in fact, the symbols of time are heightened and more prominently placed than with ordinary timepieces.

Advent calendars take many shapes & sizes–some are just doors to be opened that reveal a picture or scripture sentences; some hide chocolate or mini candy canes; and some have little resemblance to the observance of this season.

Whether they come in little boxes (thanks, Peter, for sharing that great idea!) or hang on a wall, Advent calendars are a long-standing way to mark the progress made towards Bethlehem and the inbreaking of God’s presence into our world. On our Advent Resources page, there are links to several daily Advent calendars or reflections, and we invite you to share your own ways of marking the time and keeping watch until Christmas Eve!

Observe Advent (Day 4): Pray

expatminister — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:32:41 +0000

“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” -Karl Barth

Prayer during the Advent season seems like a no-brainer. But it is hard to prioritize something which has no immediate impact on our finances, our shopping lists, our party planning, our work to-dos, or our stress levels.

To say “you should pray during Advent” is not to add an additional chore to the list. To pray during Advent is to be aware of what God is up to during this season. It is the intuition, the gut reaction, the hunch, the conviction that nurtures faith in a faithless and adulterous generation. It is the tuning fork that indicates where divine harmonies may be found, and what dissonance must be allowed to fade into silence.

Advent proclaims that God is doing a new thing…that God is not finished with us yet. Praying the O Antiphons, the traditional collects for each Sunday, the Magnificat, or simply keeping silence so that God might speak is perhaps the only way the Spirit can clue us in on what’s about to happen.

Don’t know what to pray? Common Worship, from the Church of England, has some very nice prayers for different times of the day, and there are seasonal emphases for Advent.