A Season of Anticipation

Feasting & Fasting

It may surprise you to realize that Advent was originally a fasting time. The Church used to fast to prepare for the coming of Christ which was celebrated with the feast of Christmas!

Fasting is a concrete way to step out of the pattern of consumerism that has claimed this holiday.

When we fast, we choose to give up something that we consume, or something that consumes us, our time, our focus, or our energy. We do this in order to redirect our focus (and appetite) to God.

Fasting is a beautiful way to intentionally and mindfully enter into the anticipation of advent and increase our longing for Christ.

Worship

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Songs of Hope for Advent (Week 1)

Entering into Advent

This coming Sunday marks the beginning of the Season of Advent on the church calendar. The word advent literally means arrival or coming. This is a season in the life of the Church when we remember that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.

Advent is a time for us to participate in longing, as we wait for Christ’s return. It is a time for us to worship the God who keeps and fulfills all of His promises to us.

This week’s Advent theme is Hope. God’s people were hoping for a Messiah. For long years they waited and watched for God to send deliverance.

What has God laid on your heart that you are hoping for? Are you waiting in hope and anticipation?

Advent is also a time for us to pray for the advent, or coming, of Christ in the hearts and lives of millions around the world who do not know Jesus Christ and still need Messiah.

This week let’s focus our hearts and minds on the hope we have in Jesus. Who can you share that hope with this week?

Ways to pray in Week 1

• Ask God to renew your hope in the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to you.
• Pray for those who need the saving hope of Christ.
• Pray for those who need to be reminded of the hope they have in Christ.
• Pray for opportunities to share the hope you have in Christ.
• Pray for those whose hope has been crushed by life’s circumstances.
• Pray for those who have lost loved ones.

Daily Readings

Sunday: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Monday: Matthew 5:17
Tuesday: Isaiah 61:1-11
Wednesday: John 1:1-5
Thursday: John 8:12
Friday: Hebrews 1:3
Saturday: John 8:34-36

A Time to be Transformed

We are told, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

The patterns of our world that surround us this time of year are those of extreme busyness and consumerism. People spend more money during the Christmas season than they do all year long. The world of retail sales has created its own holiday to kick-off the Christmas season: Black Friday, which in recent times is followed by Cyber Monday — days set aside for shopping and spending to direct our focus toward purchasing gifts and getting good deals. Calendars are starting to fill up with activities and Christmas movies are advertised to fill any down time.

Gift giving is a fitting way to celebrate the priceless gift God gave us in Jesus Christ. Being with family and friends is also a way to remember and celebrate Emmanuel, our God who came to be with us in the flesh. However, too many times our lives are so crowded by the ways we celebrate that we lose sight of Who we celebrate.

So, how can we be transformed this Advent season?

Let’s start by inviting Jesus to come to His own party!

•Invite Christ to come into your mind: Focus on Christ coming by reading a daily advent Bible plan

•Invite Christ to be Lord of your schedule: Lay your holiday schedule before the Lord. Schedule time to refl ect on the coming of Christ.

•Invite Christ to be Lord of your appetites: Consider fasting a food, activity, meal, or day to increase your appetite for Christ.

•Invite Christ to come into your family: Begin some new family traditions that focus on anticipating Christ.

•Invite Christ to come into your celebrations as the guest of honor: Consider how you can intentionally make Jesus the focus of your celebrations and share Jesus with your community.

•Invite Christ to direct your giving: Ask the Lord where He wants to direct your generosity this year.