Advent 9

Second Sunday in Advent Candle Lighting

An Advent wreath on a fountain in Lucerne

Week Two

*Invocation

Heavenly Father, in this second week of Advent, as we look to the coming of the Christ, prepare our hearts and minds for the great Light of His return.

* Summation

In this second week, we read from the Apostles and Evangelists, who comfort us with the knowledge that our Saviour, who has conquered all darkness and evil, will come again to take His own to live with Him in glory, far from the turmoil and sorrows of this present life.

*Bible Reading

From Is. 40

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see ittogether: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift itup, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

From Matthew 24

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

* The Lighting

We light the second candle of Advent. We kindle it in the COMFORT of God's sure Word, as we WAIT for His return.

* Prayer

O Christ, Light of the world, come to us. Give us the COMFORT of your grace in this life and in eternity. Give us Your Holy Spirit to live in love with one another, ready always to give an account of the grace You have given us, and ready always for the great day of accounting when You return.

Help us to WAIT and be ready for Your coming in glory.

* Song

God of Peace, O shine on us;

Guide our path in this life's night;

Give us comfort so to cheer us;

Come to us, O Christ the Light. 

More Pretties

Advent 8

Pretties

Some people make lovely trees. We made our annual pilgrimage to the local garden centre, with its marvellous floral and Christmas displays.

TREES!

And I needed some pansies for my mailbox plant pot.

a

Advent 7

Tree?

So, today's plans did not go according to plan. But when stuff falls all over the floor, one can make new plans and use the stuff, right?

Masses of packing peanuts

Adhere with water, or dissolve and squish, then add more as it tilts in wonky directions ...

Welllllll......

Not quite a proper tree, like this -

Advent 6

St. Nicholas Day

While we don't have little ones around with whom to celebrate anymore, a couple got treat bags (one after coming home from his big military test and placement) and we enjoyed a Grittibänz bread.

Here are the results of our glass fusing venture a bit ago.

By Sarah Y. NOTE the Trees!

By Leah Y.

By me, for a gift.

Advent 5

Essence of Tree

These aren't finished works, just sketches for ideas. But it is interesting how many ways one can communicate the essentials of Christmas Tree.

Note: This site is not, for unknown reasons, allowing me to reply to comments, so I will respond here.
The gold tree is not a stencil; it is free hand drawing in gold pen.
I will endeavour to show a step-by-step on the paper cut trees, soon.

December Life Drawing

Advent 4

Green and White

Cut and Folded

Stamped and coloured. I was going through a box that hadn't been out in some years and came across some Nativity rubber stamps that the children had used long ago and wanted using again; so I did.

Advent 3

White Trees

Cut and folded paper.

And Red Decorations

The Christmas decor is going up, gradually, around everything else that needs doing.

Advent 2

Paper Trees

Wisdom is the tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is everyone that retaineth her. 
Proverbs 3: 18

Advent 1

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas, O Christmas Tree

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.