I hear that slight arrogance sometimes in the comments of Christians who say they would prefer a “contemporary” church to a “traditional” church. These qualities become alive when expressed through you.
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But as I found myself changing travel plans to stay an extra day to support my father, who has his own health problems, the sadness over not having a partner to help me felt overwhelming.
One of my favourite seasons of the church year began Sunday – the season of Advent. “No way, sir! The way I see it, with all this horse manure, I know that there must be a pony hidden in here somewhere!”.
I imagine that if Jesus Himself stood in the middle of Walmart, the majority of us would pass Him by without so much as a glance. Advent acknowledges and mourns the reality of a world covered in darkness, a world of mistrust, hatred, violence. Moreover, the Advent season is a time of hoping and joyful waiting for the coming of the Messiah as promised. Undaunted by all that manure, the kid rubbed his hands in expectation, then got a wheelbarrow and a shovel, and proceeded to get the horse manure out of the barn, one wheelbarrow at the time.
We remember our profession of faith in the words of the Apostle’s Creed, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son our Lord”.
During our New Years Eve burning bowl service, we release our past and that which we do not want to define our lives any longer.
“More than confidence, some inner peace and fitness, I’ve gained true companionship with these little legends and I’m so proud to call them my closest friends now”, she says. God is blessed when we love Him. Involve the parents to make this better.
As TGC Worship shares, Christians can embrace brokenness at Christmas and recognize it not as a hopeless status, “but as expectant yearning for a divine banquet that Jesus is preparing for us even now”.
One last manner in which we can glorify God that we will consider, is in bearing fruit. It is a celebration of every day leading up to Christmas. Therefore we need and needed God’s “mercy”, in order to show us compassion because we were and are desperate, in a completely lost condition, and the only remedy for it is God’s mercy. In the process, Advent reminds us that we too are waiting. When we are on guard we only give attention and priority to the important and significant things in life. We’ve read the end of this particular story.
We become more discerning when presented with many choices and options.
Advent is now seen as a season of anticipation, longing and waiting for Christmas. At the darkest time of the year in the northern hemisphere, Advent gives us an opportunity to do something about the metaphorical darkness: to pray for the end of sin, to fast in reparation for sin, to give alms to those who have suffered from sin. Peter adored God and he is imploring us to do the same. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God. We wish to note a few ways that we can actually glorify God. And he always keeps his word! We should be careful not to read this as something that occurs only in the future (such as at the Lord’s second coming).
Jesus promised to come again. Why didn’t it make a bigger, lasting impact on me? The purple is a symbol of the royal nature of the spirit of God, while the blue is symbolic of hope and the colors of Heaven. We accompany the Holy Family on their journey. Each of us has a unique list of junk and illusions we must get rid of-our sins, lies and idols-if we are find the grace of Christmas that Advent points to.
We also glorify God by glorifying His Son. Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel.
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As we begin the season of Advent, I hope you have a hope that is more than wishful thinking. Advent tells us that both we and the entire creation are “groaning together…”
