Advent Monday Dec. 1st

Monday – Dec. 1st

Our Hope, God’s Promise: “O Come, O Come Immanuel” -

If you have not done so yet, consider making an Advent Candle or Wreath arrangement. All you need is four candles. If you have some evergreens go ahead and make a circle of evergreens and put the candles around the decoration. You can also go to a craft store and purchase a round piece of Styrofoam to decorate, or to put candles in. The lighting of Candles is done a week at a time. This first week we’ll light just the first candle each day. This is especially good for children to participate in as you read scripture and pray.

If you have four candles, light the first Advent Candle.

Our Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6 and 11:1-10

Isaiah 9:1-6 (NIV)
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 11:1-10 (NIV)
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.

A Hymn for Advent:

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
[Refrain]

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
[Refrain]

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
[Refrain]

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
[Refrain]

A Meditation on Preparation in a World of Darkness:

The world is loud, boisterous, seeking fulfillment in trivial pursuits. Isaiah reminds me,

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined. (9:2)

My temptation is to constantly focus on the darkness. It is easy to feel overwhelmed at times by the not-so-good daily news. The economy, terrorism, wars, unemployment, disease, death, and on and on it goes.

What I am reminded of from scripture is that God shines brightly in even the darkest places. Jesus said he is the “light of the world” – help me Lord, to remember that in these days ahead.

I long for the shoot that comes from the stump (Isaiah 11:1). Small signs of your presence: the smile of a child; the kind clerk who smiled and said “thank you”; the words of encouragement and the gestures of love from family and friends; and so many more “shoots from the stump”.

Let’s not succumb to a season of “bah, humbug” but walk in the expectation of Christ’s presence today.

Today: Look for one way in which God’s presence became clear around me.

We pray: O God, rejoicing, we remember the promise of your Son.
As the light from this candle, may the bless of Christ come upon us,
brightening our way and guiding us by his truth.
May Christ our Savior bring life into the darkness of our world,
and to us, as we wait for his coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
As the candle is lighted, take some time to prepare your heart for this Advent day.