CELLEXTRA December 2013: Advent
It’s not long now till Christmas! Only about four weeks! How much have you got to do? Have you got presents to buy and wrap, Christmas cards to write, parties to go to, decorations to put up?! Are you starting to feel ‘Christmassy’, to get excited, looking forward to a special day spent with family and friends? In the Christian calendar the four weeks before Christmas are known as Advent. (This year, the first Sunday of Advent is December 1st.) The word Advent, from Latin, means ‘the coming’. Advent marks the start of the Christmas season and is a time of waiting for the arrival of Christmas, the coming of Jesus to earth when he was born as a baby in Bethlehem. It is a time of spiritual reflection as well as excitement and anticipation. It’s a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus’ birthday and to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This month’s Cell Extra will encourage you to take some time out of your busy December schedules to remember the real celebration of Christmas. Using an Advent wreath, you will be encouraged to light five different candles over this month. As you light each candle you will be encouraged to say some words of reflection and prayers of thanks and worship to Jesus for coming into the world… a little Advent ceremony all of your own! These little ceremonies are designed for you to do on your own, but you could easily adapt to allow your family or friends to participate as well! We hope that these times of lighting your advent candles will be like a little oasis of calm amidst all the hustle and bustle and frenetic activity of this month. A time to be still, to reflect and to worship. A time to remember again together why this time of year is so special!
NB. Throughout this time of Advent make sure you have an Advent Calendar with the real Christmas story portrayed on it! How about The Real Advent Calendar… available at Tesco! (and yes it’s got chocolate too!) See www.realadvent.co.uk for more info!
1. ADVENT WREATH
During Advent many church services include a short Advent ceremony, often using an Advent wreath or candles. An Advent wreath looks something like this! The circle of greenery symbolises continuous life and the never ending circle of God’s love. There are four candles, traditionally three purple and one pink, or all red. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus and one candle is usually lit every Sunday of Advent so that during the last week before Christmas all four candles are lit. Often a fifth candle, called the Christ Candle, which is white, is added to the centre of the wreath for lighting on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. There are varying suggestions as to what each candle can represent. For the purposes of this month’s Cell Extra, our candles are going to represent hope, joy, peace and love. You will need to make your own Advent wreath. You can do this as simply as drawing a green circle on a piece of paper and placing four T- light candles around the outside. Or you could collect some holly or evergreen and form it into a circle. Alternatively you can often buy readymade wreaths from Christmas stores, simply add five candles as described above. (Internet image search Advent wreath for loads of ideas of what your wreath could look like) As you set up your wreath begin to think about the excitement of Christmas, but turn your thoughts away from the giving and receiving of presents, or the fun times with family, to the excitement of the coming of Jesus! Imagine what each of the people in the Christmas story must have felt as they waited for Jesus and finally got to meet him! Put your Advent wreath in a place where it will be safe for you to light the candles without setting the house on fire! (Be very careful with matches and lighted candles, seek advice from your parents/ guardians about a safe place for your wreath.) Although in a church one Advent candle would be lit every Sunday before Christmas Day, it doesn’t matter too much when you light each of the candles. Just spread it out equally over the number of days you have left before Christmas, eg, once every five or six days. As you light each candle follow through the little readings as given in the Advent ceremonies below, and use each short time of reflection as a retreat from the frenetic activity in the lead up to Christmas. Use this time to be with Jesus and remember what Christmas is all about! As mentioned above, if you would rather light candles with a friend and /or family member, just get them involved in reading some of the words out loud and praying together, as indicated on each little ceremony!
2. ADVENT CEREMONY ONE - Hope
Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is pregnant will have a son and will name him ‘Immanuel.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.
(Isaiah 7:14)
Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
The Advent candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of his son Jesus. The first candle is the candle of hope. We use the word ‘hope’ all the time. Usually it means wishing for something, or wanting something that ultimately might or might not happen. But this is the world’s hope. Christian hope is totally different. The Bible describes hope like an anchor, which is “firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). When there is a storm at sea and we feel we are getting blown around everywhere, hope in God’s promises keep us secure. That first Christmas Jesus was the hope of so many people, even an entire nation. This Christmas take time to remember and celebrate the light of hope you have in Jesus today! Light the first advent candle and say the following words out loud: The first candle of Advent is the candle of hope. I light this candle to remind myself that my hope is in Jesus and to watch for his return. The hope I have in Jesus is based on the cross and in God’s promises. I know that he will never let me down. My hope is in knowing that Jesus has forgiven me and that I am accepted by him. My hope is in knowing that what God has promised will definitely be fulfilled. My hope gives me boldness and courage, I know that God will stick with me no matter what. My hope gives me peace for the future. God will outwork his plans for me, and it will be the best!
With the candle of hope burning spend a few moments in quiet reflection as you consider the gift of hope in your life. The prayer out loud your own words to complete the following prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the hope you give me
Help me to be ready to share this hope with those around me this Christmas. Amen.
3. ADVENT CEREMONY TWO - Joy
When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
(Matthew 2:10)
(Philippians 4:4)
Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
The Advent candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of his son Jesus. The first candle is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy. Light the first and second advent candles and say the following words out loud: The first candle of Advent is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy. I light this candle to remind myself that Jesus is the bringer of true and everlasting joy. There is so much joy in the Christmas story! God sent the angel Gabriel to fill Mary with joy when he came to her and said “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.”(Luke 1:35) God also sent an angel into the sky over the hills near Bethlehem who shouted: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”(Luke 2:10, 11) The Wise Men came from the Far East to find this baby and God himself guided them with one of his lights in heaven. The wise men were on a joyful journey, knowing that they were going to celebrate meeting the new King. They knew this was the beginning of a new era. In their joy, the wise men presented Jesus with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. If I am truly full of the joy of Jesus at this Christmas time, I will give my gifts of time and talents, skills and energy in service to him. God has given me these gifts in the first place. I dedicate them back to him in worship and service filled with joy.
With the candle of joy burning spend a few moments in quiet reflection as you consider the gift of joy in your life and the dedication you made in the above paragraph. The pray out loud the following prayer: Dear God, I thank you for the joy you bring me. I pray that the longing for happiness in my life will be fulfilled by Jesus. Help me turn from all the distractions of the season and focus on you, the source of all hope, peace, love and joy. Help me to be ready to share your joy with those around me this Christmas. Amen.
4. ADVENT CEREMONY THREE - Peace
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Saviour was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.” Luke 2:8–20
“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7
The Advent candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of his son Jesus. The first candle is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy; the third is the candle of peace. Light the first, second and third advent candles and say the following words out loud: The first candle of Advent is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy; the third is the candle of peace. I light this candle to remind myself that Jesus brings peace to all who trust in him. But there doesn’t seem to be a lot of peace in the world today. Every night when I turn on the news, I hear about wars all over the world. Every day when I read a newspaper, I read about other people’s pain and suffering. Even Jesus was born into a time of turmoil. Herod, threatened by the birth of the child people were calling a king, ordered the murder of all male children in and around Bethlehem aged two and under. The people of Israel were in great distress. Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27). I know and believe that when Jesus comes he brings healing and good news to all who suffer. I know and believe that in this time of chaos and despair throughout the world, my God who loves peace will teach me what to do.
With the candle of peace burning spend a few moments in quiet reflection as you consider the gift of peace and take some time to pray that God will bring peace to our lives, our families, our communities and to the world. Loving God, thank you for the peace you give me through Jesus. Show me how to be a peacemaker in my relationships, my family, my community and in the world. Help me to remember the flame of this candle of peace in all my activities every day. Amen.
5. ADVENT CEREMONY FOUR - Love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34–35)
The Advent candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of his son Jesus. The first candle is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy; the third is the candle of peace; the fourth is the candle of love. Light the first, second, third and fourth advent candles and say the following words out loud: The first candle of Advent is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy; the third is the candle of peace; the fourth is the candle of love. I light this candle to remind myself how Jesus came to show us God’s love. Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love. God is love and we can see in the shape of the wreath itself the never– ending circle of God’s love for his people. The Bible tells us that it is because God loved the world so much that Jesus came. The angel tells Joseph that the baby to be born will be called ‘Emmanuel’… ‘God with us’. Because God loves me and came into the world to be with me, I must love and care for others. Jesus came to show me how to live that love and to love others as he loves me.
With the candle of love burning spend a few moments in quiet reflection as you consider the gift of love. Take a few minutes to write down the names of people who you would like to know Jesus’ love. Then pray the following prayer: God, thank you for loving me, and for sending Jesus to teach me about your love. Help me to remember that your love will never come to an end. Strengthen me to love others as you love me. Today I bring before you my friends and family named on this piece of paper. I pray for…(read out the names you have written)…that they too would know your love, your joy, your peace and your hope this Christmas. Amen.
7. THE CHRIST CANDLE - Christmas Eve / Christmas Day
For a child has been born—for us! The gift of a son—for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counsellor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. (Isaiah 9:6–7 MSG)
Light all the candles and say the following words out loud: The first candle of Advent is the candle of hope; the second is the candle of joy; the third is the candle of peace; the fourth is the candle of love. Now the time of waiting is over, Jesus is born! As I light the Christ Candle I remember that all of God’s gifts - hope, joy, peace and love - are to be found in God’s greatest gift, his son, Jesus Christ. This candle is the centre of my wreath, just as Jesus is the centre of my life. As the light shines from these candles, so may the light of Jesus shine within my heart.
With all the advent candles burning spend a few moments in quiet reflection as you consider the gift of Jesus and all that it means to you. Then pray the following prayer: Thank you God for the gift of your son, who came as a tiny fragile baby, yet who was ‘God with us’. Help me to always remember that Christmas is about Jesus and your love for all human beings, including me. Help me to remember Christmas all year long by giving to others the gifts of life: hope, peace, joy, love, kindness and understanding. Amen! Say this Christmas blessing to someone today instead of simply saying happy Christmas! ‘May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas.’