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  Advent

 
Approaching Christmas
The Season of Advent is upon us and our time of preparation and waiting has begun. Although popular culture starts “Christmas” much earlier, the Christmas season of the western Church actually begins Christmas Eve and lasts until the festival of Epiphany on January 6. Through the “twelve days of Christmas,” we celebrate the gift of love which comes to us in Jesus of Nazareth.Encourage your parish members to set up a nativity scene in their home. Add figures slowly, one per day until the Christ child is the last to be added into the manger. Our homes can become a “new Bethlehem,” a place we can welcome Emmanuel, God is with us. It is also fun to have the Magi travel around the house, arriving at Bethlehem on Epiphany. Use your creche to help you journey to Bethlehem this year! (From the Diocese of Connecticut - .pdf)
 
 

Lighting a candle is a prayer:
When we have gone, it stays alight,
kindling in the hearts and minds
of others the prayers we have
already offered for them
and for others, for the sad,
the sick, and the suffering -
and prayers of thankfulness too.


Lighting a candle is a parable:
burning itself out,
it gives light to others.
Christ gave himself for others.
He calls us to give ourselves.

Lighting a candle is a symbol:
of love and hope,
of light and warmth.
Our world needs them all.


Prayer used in Salisbury Cathedral

 

  
 
  Resources  

Saint Nicholas resources

St. Nicholas Center at www.stnicholascenter.org

   

Advent Calendars & Meditations on the Web

  • "Following the Star" from Passport, Inc

http://www.passportcamps.org/2008/home/index.html

  

  • An Advent Calendar from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington

  http://www.edow.org/spirituality/advent/index.html

  

  • An Advent Calendar from Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

http://www.gracecathedral.org/advent/
 

In Parishes

  • "Advent Waiting"  A retreat led by Fr. Patrick Collins. December 1. Grace Church, Holland. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please call by Wednesday, November 28 to reserve your place 616.396.7459.
 

Information on Alternative Gift Giving

  • The Episcopal Relief and Development Alternative Gift Market

http://www.er-d.org/aboutus_75815_ENG_HTM.

  • Alternative Gift International

http://www.alternativegifts.org/

  • Alternatives for Simple Living

http://www.simpleliving.org/index.php
   

Resources about Advent Wreath

   

General Resources

  • Advent and Christmas Resurces Online (from Theological Education For All)

http://www.teforall.org/featured_site_archive003.html

  • Candlepress (inexpensive and easy to understand booklets and activities for children and families): 

http://www.candlepress.com/site/Seasons.aspx
   

Worship Resources for Advent

  • Evening Prayer for Advent with Prayers for an End to Global Poverty (with the Millennium Development Goals)

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_69643_ENG_HTM.htm

  • Theological Reflection on the Millennium Development Goals for the Season of Advent: 

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_69645_ENG_HTM.htm

  • An Advent Bidding Prayer for an End to Global Poverty and Instability

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_69673_ENG_HTM.htm

  • Prayers of the People (Intercessions developed to correspondwith the calendar year and lectionary

http://members.cox.net/oplater/prayer.htm
   

Personal Reflection and Meditation Resources

  • Come Thou Long Expected Jesus:  Advent and Christmas meditations to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley

    Place your order by Novemeber 15, 2007 and receive a 20% discount.  Retail Price $13.00 - Special Discount Price $10.40.  To order your copy call 1-800-242-1918 or go to www.churchpublishing.org use code COME07EM next to your name at check out for this special discount.

  • Lining in Hope:  Advent Meditations from the Writings of Henry Nowen

From Printery House:  http://www.printeryhouse.org/

  

  • Advent: Waiting, the 2007 Advent Reflection Guide, written for college and university students by college and university students! The guide contains a series of daily reflections, each of which includes a verse of Scripture, a reflection, and a prayer. The reflections engage lectionary readings for the four Sundays of Advent and invite us to enter God's house, to reflect, and to go out into a wider home with Christ’s radical hospitality and unbridled joy.
 

If you would like to order our 2007 Advent Guide, please do so by November 10. Copies are limited and cost only $2.00 each, which includes shipping and handling. Please send your request to:

Gary Williams - Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society

815 Second Avenue - New York, NY 10017

You may also e-mail your order to gwilliams@episcopalchurch.org or call (800) 334-7626 extension 6257. Your copies will be mailed upon receipt of a check made payable to DFMS.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/49065_90592_ENG_HTM.htm

  • Daily Prayer & Purpose Calendar 2008

From Forward Movement www.forwardmovement.org

  

 
 

The Evergreen

Evergreens were originally a symbol of everlasting life. In Europe, they were a focus of ancient winter celebrations and were gradually give Christian significance. The custom of decorating evergreen trees comes from Germany, where mention of an evergreen adorned in a parlor dates back to 1605. Legends say Martin Luther was inspired by starlight on evergreens beneath the night sky and St. Boniface (8th C English monk) was the first to decorate a pine tree. The custom of decorating Christmas trees came to North America in the late 1700s.

  

 

Then let the trees of the forest sing

before the coming of the Lord,

who comes to judge the nations,

to set the earth aright,

restoring the world to order.

Psalm 96:12-13
   
Blessing of the Tree
God of Adam and Eve,
God of all our ancestors,
we praise you for this tree
It stirs a memory of paradise,
and brings a foretaste of heaven.
Send your Child,
the flower of the root of Jesse,
to restore your good earth
to the freshness of creation.

Then every tree of the forest
will clap its hands,
and all creation will bless you
from these shining branches.

All glory be yours,
now and for ever. Amen.