Day 1

Advent

2. Bethlehem Candle (Peace)

city of david
city of the shepherd
a sling and some stones
a poem and a lyre
a song for a choir
a throne for a king
from a nothing town
small among the clans
stone’s throw
from jerusalem
city of shalom

in those days
in the city of david
a checkpoint
city of divide
and conquer
city of walls
stones thrown
in the west bank
olive trees burning
city of why
must we stop our cars
and be counted
no room in the inn
no end in sight
no sign of shalom
for which our souls long
how we long
how long

Dr. Brent Newsom

Day 2

Bethlehem

“…from you shall come forth for Me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2 NRSV)

The Babe of Bethlehem, the Ancient One of Days, “because for us Wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” (I Corinthians 1:30 NRSV)

Someone wrote that open-minded Wisdom is required to walk justly and without prejudice on this Earth, no well-minded fear nor ill-minded feelings; that clear-minded Wisdom is the gauge for making decisions to live by, not close-minded pride nor self-minded ambition; that Wisdom searches for Truth; that Wisdom lives cheerfully, peacefully, abundantly; that Wisdom see Truth as an orderly beauty, a measured simplicity, a glowing fire, a warming presence, like a great-grandmother always aglow amidst her generations, observing them as they live before her. Someone also wrote that Wisdom is the principle means by which the finding of experience are interpreted. Well, all right, some of us learn from experience. Some of us don’t.

Experience is an effective teacher, but only when allowed to teach Truth. The back-and-forth between a human being and his resident hound, be it the Hound of Heaven of the Hound of the Baskervilles, gives us respectively deep instruction or deep deception. The former gives it with good intentions, the latter with evil.In humility, Heaven lays Truth at our feet, saying, “Take My yoke upon and learn of Me.” With reproach, anti-heaven pounds blame into our heads, insisting, “You’ve blown it with God!”

Ah, but the Advent. It heralds to the Heavens continually, “God so love the world…”

And little Bethlehem sits honored.

Larry Inman

Day 3

Corey & Karlee Fuller

Day 4

Journey. Home.

Streets are narrower than he remembered,
houses less friendly.
Faces peer from behind doors left ajar,
but none that he remembers or can name.
Yet, this place he calls home—this small town
where once he had been a young someone.
No relations here now,
he has returned on foot, and not alone.
Behind him a gray donkey, and on its back
his young wife heavy with child,
weary from travel.
Not for relaxation
and not for celebration have they come.
The visit has been commanded,
to be counted among the dutiful,
the submissive, the taxed.
Day subsides, darkness comes on,
and the beast looks curiously around.
Joseph glances uncertainly,
the young woman lowers her gaze.
Is it in her eyes? Or in his?
A vision bursting upon the world.
A star burning over a stable.
Angels choraling shepherds,
inviting kings,
A savior come this way.
A messiah.
A prince of peace.
Another child of Bethlehem.

Doug Watson

Day 5

Pray to see and be peace in your family, community, and the daily worlds you walk in.

Thematic Hymn: “Blessed Be the God of Israel”

1 Blest be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us:
a Branch for David's tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all who wish us harm.

2 With promised mercy will God still
the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
to serve God all our days.

3 My child, as prophet of the Lord
you will prepare the way,
to tell God's people they are saved
from sin's eternal sway.
Then shall God's mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.

Project: Find Bethlehem on a map or globe. If you were going to travel there, how would you do it? What would you want to do when you got there. Draw your own map of traveling from where you live to Bethlehem.