The season of Advent is by far my favorite time of year. It’s not the arrival of Christmas music, parties or gift exchanges, but the richness that unfolds through the holistic story of God making His way to us in the midst of our sin and darkness that makes this season so special. Advent is a season of preparing for the gift of God’s love story fulfilled and it will never be cliche. Each week I will share a specific scripture, a song, and reflection to help us draw us near to God in this season of anticipation. I hope you will join with me by making space this Advent to engage in God’s love story written for us all and brought to life through the birth of Christ.
Week 1: The Message of Hope
Advent means a coming into place, view or being; arrival.
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him… Isaiah 11: 1 (NASB)
At the beginning of Advent our family decorates a homemade felt Jesse Tree. A Jesse Tree consists of ornaments depicting various Bible stories from creation to the arrival of Christ. It is a way for us to remember the holistic story that is Christmas.
The first ornament is a brown tree stump. What significance could an old stump bring to the story of Christ? This seemingly dormant and dead stump is the beginning of our beautiful legacy. Out of something we might take for granted bursts forth with green, glorious and triumphant life. A shoot of hope, a promise of glory. I am amazed each spring, after a long hard winter in Michigan, at how the barren branches produce a multitude of green leaves. If the seasonal cycle of living trees never ceases to amaze me, how much more should I be in awe of a shoot coming out of a stump in which should never have life to give?
This is why the first Sunday of Advent is a call to Hope.
One of my favorite Advent hymns is, O Come Immanuel, written by John Mason Neale. Take some time to listen and read the lyrics here: (click to listen) **
This song begins as a lament; a longing to be rescued. The beginning of Advent isn’t necessarily the joy-filled activities of Jolly Ole’ Saint Nick, the drinking of eggnog, and singing songs like Deck the Halls while decorating our trees. Advent is very much a season of mourning as we recall the earth and the Israelites’ groans of old as they awaited the coming of a Savior, King, and Rescuer.
Imagine the beginning of Advent laid in darkness. When we light the first candle on our Advent wreaths in the midst of black, we can begin to fathom the darkness in which the Israelites found themselves captive. The bright piercing light of our Hope candle shimmers with expectancy for a Savior, a King who will come to rescue them, to be their hope. This hope is still ours today throughout all generations.
Immanuel means God with us. During Advent we can join together with all the saints before us in singing, O Come, O Come Immanual. Together we can wait with anticipation for the life that will shoot forth from the dormant root of Jesse. The growing hope for the birth of Christ; the arrival of God among us!
Behold, ‘days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on earth. Jeremiah 33: 14-15 (NASB)
Reflection:
- What are you hoping for this Advent season?
- How can you put your hope in God?
- This time of year can be difficult for many of us as we grieve the loss of someone or something dear in our lives, how can you place your future hope in God during this time of sadness?
- What are some ways you celebrate the first week of Advent?
- How can you share this message of hope to others who still remain in darkness and separated from Christ?
Share some of your advent traditions…
*Note: The songs were chosen for their lyrics and meaning. I felt by adding a link to view them online would be a helpful tool for reflection. There was no preference in style or artist for the rendition of the song. You are welcome to view the songs in any format you choose.
Advent is more and more precious to me every. Day and I don’t want anything to interrupt it as each evening I set the one 4×4 white candle on the cleared kitchen table. And plug in the white mini lites around it. I have beautiful instrumental background music playing and read passages to do with Jesus’ birth . I open with prayer of thanks and have stories about Christmas /advent. I set a place for the Lord My wonderful husband also passed this summer and he is in Christ which means we will be reunited in the future …that is reassuring, yet I sense his presence in Christ. As we go through the little service we used to do together. I also go to you tube: g f Handel Messiah hwv 56
(Fantastic presentation). The full 2hour version that opens with the conductor praying over his hands very impressive and his choir consists of 20 voices. And small orchestra but it is THE BEST EVER and play that every Sunday morning before going to church what an inspiration it is!!!!!!bjh
That is a beautiful tradition. I love this, thank you for sharing with us.