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Advent
Advent is the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for "coming." The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ "in power and glory." During Advent we light the Advent wreath. The wreath is a circle of greenery, marked by four candles that represent the four Sundays of the season of Advent. An additional candle is let as each new Sunday is celebrated in Advent. Advent wreathes are used both in churches and in homes for devotional purposes. The candles may be blue, purple, or lavender, depending on the local custom. Some Advent wreaths include a white candle in the center known as the "Christ Candle," which is lit on Christmas Eve. It is often helpful to develop a personal approach to Advent. Some people use this season to take on a new behavior similar to Lent, but often the behavior for Advent includes an act of charity, kindness, thoughtfulness, rather than self denial as in Lent. In one setting I worked in we had Advent Friends, similar to a Secret Santa, but rather than just small gifts, we offered prayers, wrote small poems, or devotions for the person. Another way to approach Advent is through a Daily Devotional or Reflection Guide. This year we have a Daily Reflection for Advent & Christmas, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2006-07. It is written by Katherine Howard, O.S.B. printed by Liturgical Press, Katherine is a former prioress of St. Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, Minnesota. "This book is as small as a pocket but full of spiritual insights that can never be contained". Pick up your copy in the entranceway of the church. Advent Series Each Wednesday evening in Advent we will gather together to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ. At 6:00p.m. a simple meal provided by the church, will be shared followed by a brief reflection and discussion followed by an optional labyrinth walk meditation, finishing by 8:00pm. The theme of our discussion will be based upon the Old Testament Readings for Advent. The message of the prophetic books and Advent Readings lies in what they tell us about God, what they expose to us about ourselves, and what they reveal of how God relates to us and how we should respond to God. If we listen to the Old Testament readings as Scripture, we may be able again to hear the living word of God spoken through the community of Faith across the centuries, God speaking in various times and in various ways that, indeed, prepares us and leads us to hear the new Word spoken in Jesus the Christ (Heb 1:1-2). They will testify to God, they will confront us with our own sin, they will bear witness to God's grace, and they will call us to repentance and righteousness, and a transformed life. Too often we become engulfed by the culture and respond to this joyous occasion with consumerism and stress. The holidays can be a time fraught with mixed emotions and so busy we forget to take the time to choose what is important for ourselves. Please come for one or all of these gatherings.
Week 1 December 6 – Anticipations - Restoration Sign Up Today! Copyright © 2006 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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