by Christine Sine
The theme for Advent on Godspace this year will be Light Emerges from Darkness, and as I have begun my Advent celebrations early this year with Celtic Advent which began yesterday, it seemed an appropriate time to share this.
Seeds are planted and grow in the darkness of the soil, just as a baby is planted and grows in the darkness of the womb. The Jewish day begins at dusk and our church celebrations usually begin at night. All Saints Day begins with All Hallows Eve October 31st, Celtic Advent begins the evening of November 15th and Christmas begins with Christmas Eve. The whole season of Advent was designed deliberately to coincide with winter and Christmas Eve is close (at least in the northern hemisphere) to the day of longest night. Even in the southern hemisphere where Christmas occurs in the height of summer and nights are short, there is still the sense that each new day emerges out the night’s dark embrace.
We all go through periods of darkness and there is no season like Advent to provide us with hope and promise. We hope you will join us for our daily reflections on Light Emerging from Darkness. What seeds have been planted and are growing within you? What is slowly emerging and being birthed? How can you nurture these emerging seeds until they are fully birthed to bring light and life to the world as Christ did.
Lean Towards the Light
As I thought about this today, I was reminded of our theme several years ago Lean towards the Light. In celebrating the birth of Jesus, we often forget that the light of Christ is already shining in our world. In the northern hemisphere, we may be aware that darkness is the place in which seeds germinate. In the southern hemisphere, leaning towards the light engenders images of growth and summer sunsets splashed across the sky. Wherever we are in God’s world, let us learn to lean towards the light.
So as we prepare for the season of Advent and Christmas I thought I would continue my journey towards the light by posting my Advent video Leaning Towards the Light from 2015. It contains amazing photos by Craig Goodwin and Tom Balke (Title photo) and beautiful music by Jeff Johnson. I hope that you enjoy revisiting it as much as I did.
Produced and written by Christine Sine for Mustard Seed Associates.
The music is “Antiphon” from the CD, ANTIPHON by the Coram Deo Ensemble. Music by Janet Chvatal, Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning
℗© 2011 Sola Scriptura Songs / ArkMusic.com
Used with permission. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
We will post daily reflections, prayers and music throughout the season to inspire and challenge all of us. Leaning towards the light is not just about our personal preparation. It embraces our response to world crises, our attitudes towards those at the margins, and compassionate care for friend and stranger alike.
In addition, we have a variety of Advent/Christmas resource lists you might like to explore including this beautiful Advent candle lighting liturgy by Emma Morgan of Melbourne, Australia.
New Gift and New Resources for You this Advent Season
As a free gift to you all, a small way to say thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement, we offer, as well as Advent in a Jar, our Advent/Christmas colouring book, Colour Your Way Through Advent and Christmas. Colouring pages are based on the O Antiphon images drawn for us last year by Danielle Poland for our popular devotional A Journey Toward Home: Soul Travel from Advent to Lent. Additional Christmas images were created by Shelby Selvidge.
And don’t forget our prayer cards and other Godspace resources
Prayer Cards. I have loved putting these together and their popularity suggests you enjoy them too. There are three sets available – two that provide short reflections and prayers for pausing through the day and a third with a Celtic theme. These are available as separate sets or you can bundle them together to receive one of each set. I find these cards enrich my own devotional time and I hope they will do the same for yours.
Waiting for the Light – An Advent Devotional – Christine Sine
A Journey Towards Home: Soul Travel From Advent to Lent with contributions from a number of Godspace authors
Advent Waiting Experience by Lilly Lewin
A Fragrant Offering: A Daily Prayer Cycle In The Celtic Tradition – John Birch
Seeking the Light: Poetry for the Soul – Ana Lisa DeJong