Category: Advent

This little child, lowly birth shall be the joy of all the earth.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

 

December is a very busy month, filled with so many things to do by Christmas Eve. That
the Church would have additional Services during the month of December would seem
to add to the busyness. But that is not the intention of our Midweek Advent Services:
they are designed to be a refuge and to help us keep some perspective on the Season.

At 7:00 PM on the Wednesday evenings of Advent we will gather for Evening Prayer and
direct our thoughts to the message in the music: what we pray and proclaim when we sing
the beloved Christmas carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.â€

This carol is 900 years old and its use in the Early Church and origin in the Scriptures is
even older. The carol has not only a glorious message but a long history as a way
Christian pilgrims on the Advent journey have prepared their hearts and minds to
celebrate Christ aright, by contemplating the work of the One who is hymned by us as:

Emmanuel
Wisdom
Lord of Might
Branch of Jesse’s Tree
Key of David
Dayspring from on High
Desire of Nations

Journey with us each Wednesday evening in Advent (December 4, 11, and 18) as we
prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Christmas aright, praying:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Pastor VanOsdol

Christmas Traditions


The month of December is awash in traditions, all revolving around our preparation for and celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. When and how do you decorate the house and the church? What foods must be part of your season and on your Christmas Day table? What family activities define the Christmas season for you?

We love our Christmas traditions, even if we are not sure sometimes how some of them got started.

There are three things that are part of our season that may have had their beginnings in the very first Christmas. On the Wednesday evenings in Advent this year, we will consider these traditions as we see Mary participate in them as recorded by St. Luke in his Gospel:

Letters
The focus of this first night (December 5) will be the custom of sending and receiving Christmas letters and announcements: a way of keeping in touch with those we know and love.

Mary, too, received an announcement as she prepared for the very first Christmas. This night, we will hear the glad tidings from the Angel about the reason for this season. In the language of the Church, it is call the Annunciation.

Visiting
The focus of this night (December 12) will be the custom of visiting during the holiday season, whether to family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Visiting is another way of remaining close to those we know and love, no matter how many miles may separate us.

Mary, too, visited family as she prepared for the very first Christmas. This night, we will hear of Mary’s visit to her relative, Elizabeth, and what we learn from it about the reason for this season. In the language of the Church, it is called the Visitation.

Singing
The focus of this night (December 19) will be singing and the way Christmas music enhances our celebration of the season.

Mary, too, sang out of her joy over the wonder of the very first Christmas. This night, we will ponder Mary’s Song and what it tells us about the reason for this season. In the language of the Church, it is called the Magnificat.

Pr. VanOsdol