Welcome to Celtic ADVENT . It begins tonight… 40 days before Christmas to prepare for the arrival of Jesus the LIGHT. Are you ready to start the journey towards Bethlehem? You might not be ready tonight, but you can begin this weekend any time. Our world feels really dark and heavy these days/ We really need the LIGHT of the World at this moment in time.
How are you feeling the darkness right now? Talk to Jesus about how you are feeling.
Where have you noticed signs of LIGHT this week? Make an actual list of all the signs of LIGHT you’ve experienced….the moon, a child playing, a baby smiling, a beautiful tree or bird, a call from a friend.
How do you need the LIGHT today? Talk to Jesus about this.
ADVENT Centerpiece
ACTION : Light a Candle and take a few deep breaths. Quiet your heart and Let the Holy Spirit whisper to you as you consider these passages. Let the Lighted candle remind you of the Light of the World.
PSALM 112
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. 4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. 7 They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn[c] will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
JOHN 1: 1-14 FIRST NATIONS VERSION
1-2 Long ago, in the time before all days, before the creation of all things, the one who is known as the Word was there face to face with the Great Spirit. This Word fully represents Creator and shows us who he is and what he is like. He has always been there from the beginning, for the Word and Creator are one and the same. Through the Word all things came into being, and not one thing exists that he did not create.
4Creator’s life shined out from the Word, giving light to all human beings. This is the true Light that comes to all the peoples of the world and shines on everyone. 5The Light shines into the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it or put it out.
6-7Into the wilderness of the Land of Promise (Judea) came a man named Gift of Goodwill (John). He was sent by the Great Spirit to tell what he knew about the Light so everyone could believe. He was not the Light but came to speak the truth about the Light. 9The true Light that shines on all people was coming into the darkness of this world.
10He came down into this world, and even though he made all things, the world did not recognize him. 11Even his own tribe did not welcome or honor him. But all who welcome and trust him receive their birthright as children of the Great Spirit. They are born in a new way, not from a human father’s plans or desires, but born from above—by the Great Spirit.
14Creator’s Word became a flesh-and-blood human being and pitched his sacred tent among us, living as one of us. We looked upon his great beauty and saw how honorable he was, the kind of honor held only by this one Son who fully represents his Father—full of his great kindness and truth.
JOHN 1: 1-14 THE MESSAGE. The Life-Light
The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.
6-8 There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.
9-13 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.
14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
What is God’s Word for you today? What is God speaking you about today? Use the psalm, and/or the Gospel as your inspiration. Write, Journal, or create in Art, or Just BE with Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you!
READ the passages again.
What speaks to you today? What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you?
What do you notice from the passage that you didn’t notice before?
What do you wonder about? What questions come up for you as you listened to the passage?
Here are some of the questions that come up for me from this passage:
What keeps you and me from recognizing Jesus, the Light? How do we get so caught up in what we think Jesus is about that we miss who he really is?
If Jesus is the TRUE LIGHT what is the FALSE Light or Lights? What does false light look like? Why are we so easily attracted to false lights? Like success, and riches, comparison, social media, power, etc?
Creator’s Word became a flesh-and-blood human being and pitched his sacred tent among us, …I wonder what this Sacred Tent looks like…how do we create Sacred Tents for others…places of welcome, hospitality and safe refuge?
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.
How can you go be the LIGHT in the world?
How is Jesus inviting you to be his LIGHT in the world this season of Advent?
scott erickson
“John writes that the Word (the Christ) gave life to everything and everyone. And then this Word’s life(JESUS) brought light to everyone. Another way to say it is there is a Giver of this life. And then the Giver of this life joins that life and His life brings light to all life. Don’t get lost in the metaphor! Put simply, the function of light is to help us see more clearly. Jesus’ life helps us see our own lives more clearly…..May you rest in the peace that the darkness can never extinguish the light that has been given you. ”
Scott Erickson Honest Advent
How do you need to see your life more clearly right now?
JOHN 8: 12
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”“The Light shines into the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it or put it out.”
JOHN 1: 14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
How do these verses give you hope? In this season of Advent, how can you practice “moving into your neighborhood” like Jesus does? What would that look like practically ? Actions? Ask Jesus to show you.
How can you bring LIGHT to others and shine God’s love to all you meet? We all need God’s help right now with this! Remember that you are God’s child and you are God’s Beloved.
LISTEN to Two songs that are bringing LIGHT to the world for me!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord God
, Help us to see your LIGHT and Help us not to be afraid of the darkness.
Help us to slow down and prepare our hearts.
Help us to wait and take time to be with you.
Teach us to contemplate the wonder of God with us.
Teach us to know the presence of your Spirit.
Teach us to bear the life and Light of Jesus and live out your Kingdom. Today and Always.
In your Name, Amen. (adapted from Ray Simpson, Lindesfarne)
“May you rest in the peace that the darkness can never extinguish the light that has been given you”. Scott Erickson Honest Advent
BOOKS I Recommend for ADVENT this year:
Celtic Advent: Following An Unfamiliar Path by Christine Sine
Honest Advent by Scott Erickson
Celtic Advent: 40 days of devotions to Christmas by David Cole
God Speaks through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Coming by Drew Jackson
If you are looking for a creative way to engage God this Advent, create a Sacred Space Prayer Experience for your friends, family or entire congregation! Celebrating the Incarnation or the Advent Experience called Waiting
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com