I love Advent. I love the Christmas season. I love the traditions and the gift giving and the smiling! Smiling is my favorite!!! Okay, sorry, I just got finished watching Elf and decorating the Christmas tree with my family, so I am feeling all the feels!! But seriously, I do love the anticipation that our holiday season brings.
I am also keenly aware that this season has the ability to bring crazy busy schedules, too much sugar and alcohol, family drama, and many other stressors; chemical, physical and emotional. Yet, as I look forward to the next few weeks, I am reminded to slow down and take small daily steps to maintain normal. To continue to read my Bible daily, to move my body daily, to appreciate the relationships I have, and enjoy spending time picking out thoughtful gifts for those in my life. I am holding onto the mindset that I “get to” do all of these things. May we be able to worship HIM in the busyness of this wonder-ful season.
“A Liturgy to Mark the Start of the Christmas Season”
From: Every Moment Holy
COPYRIGHT © 2017 | DOUGLAS MCKELVEY
Leader: As we prepare our house for
the coming Christmas season, we would
also prepare our hearts for the returning Christ.
People: You came once for your people,
O Lord, and you will come for us again.
Though there was no room at the inn
to receive you upon your first arrival,
We would prepare you room
here in our hearts
and here in our home,
Lord Christ.
As we decorate and celebrate, we do so
to mark the memory of your redemptive
movement into our broken world, O God.
Our glittering ornaments and
Christmas trees,
Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts –
By these small tokens we affirm
That something amazing has happened
in time and space –
that God, on a particular night,
in a particular place, so many years ago,
was born to us, an infant King,
our Prince of Peace.
Our wreaths and ribbons and colored
lights, our giving of gifts, our parties with
friends – these have never been ends in
themselves.
They are but small ways in which
we repeat that sounding joy first
proclaimed by angels int he skies near
Bethlehem.
In view of such great tidings of love
announced to us, and to all people,
how can we not be moved to praise and
celebration in this Christmas season?
As we decorate our tree, and as we
feast and laugh and sing together,
we are rehearsing our coming joy!
We are making ready to receive the one
who has already,with open arms,
received us!
We would prepare you room
here in our hearts
and here in our home,
Lord Christ.
Now we celebrate your first coming,
Immanuel, even as we long for your
return.
O Prince of Peace, our elder brother,
return soon. We miss you so!
Amen.