Day 1
Advent
4. Angel’s Candle (Love)
with held breath
trembling hands
leaden feet
racing hearts
we lift our eyes
messenger of God
you terrify
us in our smallness
with our unclean lips
come to purify
we have waited
so long for your word
we long for your world
to break into ours
night sky cracking like a shell
so light seeps through the seams
no—like something cracking
inside ourselves
so love seeps in
fills us like pitchers
to overflowing
flows from our hands
like blood from a wound
that heals all wounds
o messenger of God
descend like a dove
like a word
like our world
is already yours
like your world
is already here
we wait
we watch
we ache
we are
all ears
do you
hear
Dr. Brent Newsom
Day 2
What Do You Expect for Christmas?
Luke 2:13-15
A New Testament scholar described the first century people as “a world on tiptoe with expectation.” The same is true for many of us in the Advent season. Children often have expectations about presents, perhaps making a list for parents or Santa. Adults treasure Christmas customs such as trees, singing carols, eating festive food, and sending cards. I celebrate Christmas the most when my daughters can join me.
Luke and Matthew both highlighted the role of angels in the Advent and Christmas story. The angels who appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem stressed the gift of “peace on earth” (Luke 2:14). The UBC custom of passing the peace in the morning worship service reminds us of the reality that God is the source of true peace and that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). We all wish that peace would break out in our war-torn world. The old song captures my Christmas expectation: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Jesus offers us the kind of peace that we need. He pronounced his blessing on the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
Today we realize that Jesus is God's gift to a sinful world. “God is love” (1 John 4:8) is a basic theme of both the Old and New Testaments, but in his teaching and ministry Jesus highlighted God's love for sinners, lepers, children, and Samaritans.
Warren McWilliams
Jack Knight
Day 4
Luke 2:12-15
Ask a child at the mall who the main person at Christmas is, and you are more likely to hear Santa unless that child has been raised in church. For many adults Christmas is a holiday from work rather than a holy day.
One of the main persons of Christmas in this passage is an angel. There are a number of references to angels in the bible.They are referred to as messengers or ministering spirits. Here there are shepherds tending their sheep on a quiet night when an angel appears and the night sky becomes light. The angel speaks to them and they are afraid. The angel tells them not to fear because there is good news for all people.A child is born in Bethlehem.Then a multitude of angels appear praising God. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear good news and a choir of angels singing?
The shepherds were considered unclean by the temple rulers because they could not follow the rules of cleansing, but God chose to being good news to them rather than the temple rulers. Also, Jesus was not born in a palace, but a manger. This shows that Jesus is for all people in all situations. That is good news indeed! After leaving their flocks and going to see the baby in the manger, they returned to share their news and glorified God for what they had seen and heard.
Lynda Pence
Day 5
Pray that you and others would know the full breadth and depth of God’s love.
Thematic Hymn: “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”
1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav'n to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away our love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
3 Come, Almighty to deliver;
let us all Thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve Thee as Thy hosts above;
pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.
4 Finish then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav'n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Project: Gather as friends and/or family and think of a way to show love to at least one person in a tangible, creative way. This could be caroling, providing a meal, or a gift or something else you might come up with together.