The Advent season marks the beginning of the Christian year, a time in which the ordinary is jolted with the Incarnation - the already redemption - which births hope, joy, peace, and love in the world. We enter into the Advent season with lenses of a story already redeemed. Our perspective of the trajectory of God’s story unfolding in the world has always revealed the greatest love, that the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood (John 1.14, MSG). The incarnation already reveals God’s total embrace - love - of creation. As we discover and embody the love of Jesus in the world, will we see the glory of God - the incarnation - with our own eyes?
WEEK BY WEEK
During Advent, we’ll be exploring revised common lectionary passages. The lectionary is a selection of scripture readings which the global Church uses for worship, study, and retelling of the story of God.
Dec. 1: Anticipate Becoming (Isaiah 2.1-5) Isaiah 2:1-5 • Psalm 122 • Romans 13:11-14 • Matthew 24:36-44
Dec. 8: One With God (Romans 15:4-13) Isaiah 11:1-10 • Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 • Romans 15:4-13 • Matthew 3:1-12
Dec.15 : Rejoice! (Luke 1:46b-55) Isaiah 35:1-10 • Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55 • James 5:7-10 • Matthew 11:2-11
Dec. 22: Redeemed by Love (Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19) Isaiah 7:10-16 • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 • Romans 1:1-7 • Matthew 1:18-25
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Gathering: Incarnation, already Redemption (John 1.1-14) Isaiah 52:7-10 • Psalm 98 • Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) • John 1:1-14
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
-Reread the text(s) for this week. What else do you notice in the story?
-What about the birth of Jesus continues to surprise you? Imagine yourself present at the birth of Jesus (read Luke 2.1-20), naming what you notice, as the Word of God comes to dwell with us.
-In what ways do you see redemption evidenced as Jesus shows up in the particulars of the everyday (“small stages”)?
-Where is the Spirit urging you to respond to God’s grand “yes” to you? Share this with someone you trust, allowing them to walk alongside you.
-In what ways might our communal response to God’s redemptive work in the world proclaim hope, in welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed you (Romans 15.7)?
RESOURCES
Books:
The Divine Dance - Richard Rohr
Imaginative Prayer - by Jared Patrick Boyd
Poetry, Visual Art, and Daily Meditations during Advent:
(*As with any resource, you may have to wrestle with some things that just don't align with who we are. However, they are worth pulling from. Delight in what is beautiful.)
Lectionary Poetry by The Englewood Review
The Advent Project at Biola University
Music:
See the Love and May You Find a Light by the Brilliance
Oh Light by the Liturgists - http://www.theliturgists.com/oh-light;
Josh Garrels The Light Came Down