MORAGA VALLEY PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH

2 0 1 7 A D V E N T D E VO T I O N A L MORAGA VALLEY PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH

table of contents Advent...2 The Advent Wreath...3 Week 1 Preparing for the Child...4 DECEMBER 3-9 Week 2 Anticipating the King...6 DECEMBER 10-16 Week 3 Longing for the Prince of Peace...8 DECEMBER 17-23 Merry Christmas! The Messiah Arrives...10 DECEMBER 25 But, someone, please give me who is born again but still so much in need of being born anew give me the details of how to live in the waiting cocoon before the forever begins? Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts Author: Siv M. Ricketts Graphic Design: Nancy Ingersoll 2017 MORAGA VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga, California 94556 925-376-4800, www.mvpctoday.org

why celebrate advent? During the Christmas season we prepare our homes. During Advent we prepare our hearts. Beginning four Sundays before Christmas, Advent is the season in the Church calendar during which we look forward to God s coming. In fact, advent is Latin for coming. The early Church used the equivalent word in Greek, parousia, to refer to the second coming, when Christ will return in all His glory to gather His people to Himself at the end of time. During Advent we look forward to the coming of the Christ child, and we also look forward to Christ s triumphal return when He will usher us into eternity. We celebrate God s coming to dwell among us in Jesus. We open our hearts to how God wants to come into our lives now. And we look forward in hopeful anticipation of everlasting life with God. Filled as it is with gatherings of family and friends, candlelight, holiday food, gift-giving and receiving, Christmastime may be the busiest time of year. Celebrating Advent helps us to be intentional about Christ in Christmas. It focuses and refocuses our attention on the truly important above the urgent. It gives us an opportunity to read and discuss Scripture with loved ones and, for those with children at home, it gives us an opportunity to train up our children in life and faith. It is our prayer that God will bless you as you take time out from the busyness to slow down and, in quietness and prayer, with family and friends, contemplate the coming of Christ. This Advent season, may you be open to God at work in new and life-giving ways. A NOTE ABOUT ADVENT 2017 We celebrate Advent on the four Sundays before Christmas. This year, however, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday. Consequently, we have included three (rather than four) Sunday readings in addition to the Christmas reading. In continuity with the Advent Sunday readings from Isaiah, we suggest that in the week following Christmas you read Isaiah 53 to meditate on the Suffering Servant, our Savior Jesus. the advent wreath The Advent wreath candle lighting tradition is one way in which we celebrate God s coming and open our lives anew to Jesus. Each element of the tradition is symbolic and can add deeper meaning to our Christmas celebrations. The Advent Wreath (a circle) signifies eternity God is, was and always will be. There are four candles on the perimeter of the wreath. Three purple candles represent royalty and repentance; one pink candle (for week three) represents joy. The white center candle represents the divine nature of the baby Jesus. Evergreens represent everlasting life in Jesus and His everlasting love for us. The candlelight itself symbolizes Jesus, the Light of the World. Every evening during Advent you will say the words of John 8:12 as you light the candles Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life and end with a short prayer. Sunday candle lightings include Scripture reading and a meditation; for Monday through Saturday, a Scripture and discussion question replace the Scripture and meditation. During the first week, light only one candle. The second week light two candles, the third week three candles and the fourth week four candles. Light the center candle on Christmas to signify that the light of Jesus Christ has come into the world. You may find it helpful to set aside a special time each day and to establish either a routine or a rotation for who will light the candles, read Scripture and pray. FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN: Advent provides a seasonal opportunity to teach your children about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. Depending on the ages of your children, you may use flameless candles for safety. You may also read from a children s Bible, choose the shorter Scripture option, or move straight from reading Scripture to prayer. God blesses the reading of His Word, and we pray that you will be blessed by including this tradition among your Christmas celebrations. 2 2017 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 3

week 1 preparing for the child DECEMBER 3-9 Read and light the first candle (middle purple candle): The first candle represents the Child of the Virgin. Say aloud together: Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Read Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-17 (Shorter reading: Isaiah 7:14) Read: Parents actively work to prepare for their child s birth. They visit the doctor, assemble a crib, purchase and wash clothes and fill a nursery, all in anticipation of the child s arrival. Similarly, in Advent we prepare not only our homes but our hearts for the birth of a Child. While some, like Ahaz, will reject God s sign, we joyfully wait for God to fulfill His promise. Pray: Father God, prepare in our hearts room for your Son. In the name of Immanuel we wait and pray, Amen. Monday 1 Kings 8:56-58 Pray that God will make you aware of His presence with you. Tuesday 2 Chronicles 13:12 How does God lead you? Wednesday Psalm 46:1-3, 7 How can God s presence with you free you from fear? Thursday Ephesians 1:4-6 What difference does it make in your life that God chose you to be His child? Friday 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 Is there a hard-to-love person in your life? Ask God to increase your love. Saturday Jude 24-25 When has God kept you from stumbling? activities Invite someone to attend the Sing-Along Messiah: Christmas on the Hill Concert with you this Saturday at 7pm. Who helps you remember that God is with us? Write them a thank you note. Then make a plan to encourage someone else: whatever you re going through, God is with you! Set up a small manger (as simple as a plain cardboard box) and get some hay. Encourage family members to do simple acts of kindness throughout the day. For each kind deed, add some hay to the manger. Throughout Advent, your service to others helps to prepare the manger and your heart for the arrival of the Christ Child. Sing or meditate on verses from the Advent carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel: O come, O come, Immanuel, And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Share Christmas joy with a child served by one of MVPC s local mission partners. Choose an angel from the Giving Tree and purchase gifts. Deliver gifts to the MVPC office by December 12. 4 2017 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 5 Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O Wisdom from on high, Who ordered all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show And teach us in its ways to go. (refrain) Before the hero enters, people anticipate his coming. Old promises are remembered. New promises are made. Excitement sparks and burns in the hearts of all the players. People prepare. Christians examine themselves. They clean up their lives, interior and exterior, making themselves ready to meet the hero at his coming. So kindled are many emotions that good hearts break into song both in heaven and on earth, waiting, waiting Walter Wangerin, Preparing for Jesus

week 2 anticipating the king DECEMBER 10-16 Read and light two candles (purple): The first candle represents the Child of the Virgin. The second candle represents the King. Say aloud together: Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Read Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 (Shorter reading: Isaiah 11:1-5) Read: We plan appropriately when we expect company, picking up the house and preparing refreshments. When we anticipate the arrival of someone important, we might also brush up on discussion topics or customs which will make our guest feel more comfortable. So too as we anticipate the Root of Jesse, the coming King, we clean up our hearts and faithfully commit ourselves to His righteous ways. Pray: We anticipate the coming of our King Jesus and pray in His name, Amen. Monday 1 Samuel 8:6-7 How can you honor God as your king today? Tuesday Psalm 24:8 What battle do you need the King to fight for you? Wednesday Psalm 145:10-13 What mighty acts has your King done for you? Thursday Isaiah 6:1-5 Draw a picture of this scene and talk to God about it as you draw. Friday Mark 1:14-15 How would you explain the good news of God s kingdom? Saturday 1 Timothy 1:17 What other words could you use to describe your King? Go outside and find (or cut) a branch and put it in a pot or vase. Create paper ornaments to decorate it using the descriptions of the coming King from Isaiah 11:1-5. Work together as a family to create a family tree, or look through old family photo albums. What stories of God s redemption can you tell? What thanksgiving can you offer to God for His work in your family? Sing or meditate on verses from the Advent carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel: O come, O come, great Lord of might, Who to your tribes on Sinai s height In ancient times did give the law In cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O Branch of Jesse s stem, Unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, And give them victory o er the grave. (refrain) Wait on the Lord is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come. J.I. Packer, Knowing God activities Make a construction paper crown for King Jesus. On the inside, write a prayer telling Him what it means to you that He is King of your life. 6 2017 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 7

week 3 longing for the prince of peace DECEMBER 17-24 Read and light three candles (two purple, one pink): The first candle represents the Child of the Virgin. The second candle represents the King. The third candle represents the Prince of Peace. Say aloud together: Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Read Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7 (Shorter reading: Isaiah 9:6) Read: We do not live in a peaceful world. War. Shootings. Discrimination. Crime. Illness. Divorce. Job stress. Division, lack of unity, in all its forms. Jesus is the Prince of Peace yet we struggle beneath the weight of the world. Without God we have no chance at peace or hope. With God, the Prince of Peace, we have both. We long for, cling to, Jesus our Peace. Pray: Prince of Peace, hold us tight as you work out your justice and righteousness. We long for you, Jesus. Amen. Monday Psalm 93:1 How do you hang on in faith that God is in control? Tuesday Isaiah 26:3-4, 12 What worries do you need to put in God s hands? Wednesday Ezekiel 34:24-26 How might you participate in God s showers of blessings for someone else? Thursday Matthew 5:9 What can you do today to be a peacemaker? Friday John 14:27 Let go of your troubles and receive Jesus peace. Saturday Romans 15:13 Pray this verse for yourself and for anyone else you know who feels peace-less. activities Invite someone to join you for one of MVPC s Christmas Eve worship services: 5 pm Family Service 9 pm Carol Service 11 pm Candlelight Service Take a piece of paper and fold it in four. Open it again and in each quadrant write one of the names for God from Isaiah 9:6 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Fill each quadrant with stories, descriptions, Scripture, artwork or collage as examples of how Jesus lives up to His name. If you don t have young children at home, serve a young family: offer to babysit or run errands, take the children to a park, or drop off treats for the family. Find a block of time to spend with your Prince of Peace. Some suggestions: Sit in silence. Listen to the world and the quiet whispers of your Lord. Pray through the headlines. Take a solo hike and see the beauty of the world God created. Write or draw in a journal, giving the Prince your worries and receiving His peace. Pray peace over the people in the Christmas cards you ve received. Sing or meditate on verses from the Advent carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel: O come, O Bright and Morning Star, And bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night And turn our darkness into light. Madeleine L Engle, Winter Song 8 2017 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 9 Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O king of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease And be yourself our King of Peace. (refrain) We cannot wait til the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, For to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

christmas the messiah arrives DECEMBER 25 Read and light all candles: The first candle represents the Child of the Virgin. The second candle represents the King. The third candle represents the Prince of Peace. The fourth candle represents the Savior. The center candle represents Jesus, the Messiah. Say aloud together: Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Read Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 Read: Hello, sweet baby Jesus, lying in a manger. We ve been expecting you, Messiah! We ve prepared for your birth, Child of the Virgin. We ve anticipated the arrival of our King Jesus. And oh, how we have been longing for you, our Prince of Peace. Now it s Christmas Eve, and here you are, announced by angels and guarded by shepherds and livestock. We re so glad you re here, since we need you now more than ever. We re not very good at waiting, but we will keep expecting you, preparing for your next Advent, when you will gather your people to be with you forever. Pray: Everlasting Father, thank you for sending us your Son, our Messiah Jesus. In His precious name we will rejoice forever, Amen. O Lord, you are the musician, and we are all your instruments. You breathe, and we come to life. You breathe, and we are horns for your glory. You blow through the world the winds of the spirit, and we like chimes cannot keep silent. You pluck the strings of our hearts, and we become a psalm. You come, and we must sing. Walter Wangerin, Preparing for Jesus 10 2017 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 11

12 advent ref lections

The Giving Tree November 26 December 10 Share the joy of Christmas with those in need. Sing-Along Messiah C HR I S T M AS O N T H E H IL L CON CERT Saturday, December 9, 7 pm Childcare available for children ages 6 months to Kindergarten with reservation by Dec 6: kveitch@mvpctoday.org Worship Services Sunday Worship 9:30 am & 5 pm CHRISTMAS EVE Sunday, December 24, 2017 Family Service 5 pm Carol Service 9 pm Candlelight Service 11 pm NEW YEAR S EVE Sunday, December 31, 2017 One Service 9:30 am 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga, California 94556 www.mvpctoday.org 925.376.4800