For this Advent season, I am doing a series of Christmas trees in many representations: simple, complex, 2-D, 3-D, in many media, in yet-to-be-determined quantities.
For our meditation, with an Advent Wreath:
Week One
*Invocation
Heavenly Father, in this first week of Advent, as we look to the coming of the Christ, prepare our hearts and minds for the great Light of His Nativity.
* Summation
In this first week, we read from the Old Testament prophets, who foretold the coming of the Incarnate Saviour to bring light to a dark world and hope to His people.
* Bible Readings
From Isaiah 60
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
From Malachi 4
Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.
From Isaiah 9
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
From Isaiah 64
Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses areas filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Andthere is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee: for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
But now, O LORD, ThouartourFather; we arethe clay, and Thou our potter; and we all arethe work of Thy hand.
Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember ouriniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech Thee, we areallThy people.
* The Lighting
We light the first candle of Advent. We kindle it with HOPE, as we WATCH for Your coming.
* Prayer
O Christ, light of the world, come to us. Give us the sure HOPE of Your grace in this life and in eternity. Re-fashion us in our mortal clay to be the vessels of Your grace, that you intend for us. Break through our hard hearts, to cleanse us of our iniquities. Visit us with Your forgiving Spirit. Help us to WAIT patiently for Your coming in Glory.
*Song (To the beginning of the tune "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence")
God of hope, O shine on us;
Guide our path in this life's night.
Make us watchful, sure and ready;
Come to us, O Christ the Light.
Love these!!!
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