Advent Traditions III: Alms & Bearing Burdens

Second to shopping, giving to charities is the en vogue thing to do during the month of December. Giving to a wide range of good causes becomes extra easy and convenient.  There is even a day dedicated to it once the first few days of shopping come to a close on Giving Tuesday.  Where ever you look people can be found making donations this time of year, rather it be out of generosity, coercion, or the need for a tax deduction.  Supporting charities is something that is supported by the broad scope of our culture, it not unique to only Christians or Christian organizations.  So why then is giving alms an Advent tradition? No, the answer is not because Santa Clause or even that it makes us better Christians.

We Give Because We Are Free

Giving for the Christian is tied to the second table of the law which instructs us to love our neighbor.  We are to serve them in their physical needs and concern ourselves with helping our neighbor and their households prosper.  Yep, that includes our enemies.  Nope, we can't do this without our sin mucking it up.  Most often when we try to give we get an ego trip out of the whole ordeal. We feel we deserve more credit than we deserve.  In Christ, we are free to give.  Giving becomes a fruit of the Gospel, a work done in us through the Holy Spirit.  We come to love the law that shows us the blessing of loving our neighbor as ourselves.  Because Advent keeps our focus on Christ and away from ourselves, we find joy in giving.

Culturally it is convenient to give haphazardly and perhaps impersonally tossing your extra change into a red bucket.  Certainly causes like that are fine and benefit many.  However, it is a wonderful thing to take the time to seek out a special cause of which we can be personally connected to.  It teaches us humbleness and graciousness as we see how God has blessed us to be a blessing to someone else.   In our giving, we trust and look to the promises of God's Word from which flows our prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

Yoked Together In Advent

As we go through the season of waiting we are reminded that as God's beloved we are yoked together to bear each others burdens.  The holiday season in all it's festivities has a way to tugging at the hurts and pains of many people.  Some suffer the grief of losing a loved one, some are depressed, poor and impoverished, some are just simply lonely, families may be separated or in the midst of conflict, and some struggle with doubt.  Our flesh causes lots of sorrow. Now bearing each others burdens is not a specific Advent tradition, yet it seems very appropriate for the season.  During Advent, as we wait, the scriptures focus us on Jesus, taking on human flesh.  The flesh of a baby shivering cold and lying in the mess of a feeding trough for animals.  It doesn't get much humbler than that.  Emmanuel took the burden of our sin and flesh from a humble manger to a humble tree.  Now as we eagerly await His return, bringing us into a restored heaven and earth, we know that life in the present isn't dandy and pleasant all the time.  Being a Christian doesn't mean that life will be a comfortable utopia.  No, we suffer, but we suffer at the foot of the cross.

We suffer with each other, yoked together, to walk along side of each other in love and harmony.  We bear one another's burdens when we point each other to Christ's free forgiveness, and forgiving each other.  Yes, even grumpy old relatives around the Christmas dinner table.  Again we are free. Free to act in mercy and empathy in response to complaints, grumbles, and discontentment.  We offer better than the world's words of "just get off your butt and be happy".   We speak the truth in love.  Advent truth that Jesus is present for us, despite our suffering and doubts, in Word and Sacrament. Burden bearing reminds us that God is caring and providing to support this body and life. Not just in Advent, but each and every day we can come to the outstretched arms of our Adonai who redeems us.

Advent Traditions II: Advent Wreath

One of the most common Advent Traditions is the Advent wreath, which is far from just another Christmas decoration.  This is actually a fairly new tradition as traditions go. However, I think, it's a good one as it provides many teaching moments. Having an Advent wreath in our home has been helpful to my family as we track the weeks leading up to Christmas, as a new candle is lit each week.  The anticipation grows with the brightness of the wreath. We typically light our Advent wreath during evening devotion time.  An Advent wreath is is jam packed with simple symbolism which helps to keep us focused on Christ the light of the world during this season of waiting.  

The shape of the Advent wreath being circular reminds us that God is eternal and His love is never ending.  When Christ returns we will enter into eternal life with Him. 

The greenery  can have many connections.  Jesus is the Tree of Life, who gives new life though his death and resurrection.  The color green is also the color of growth reminding us that as God's children we continue to grow in His Word.  

There are a few different traditions surrounding the four candles.  Most often the candles are three purple and one pink.  Purple is the color of royalty point to Jesus as king.  It is also the color of repentance.  I like the connection this can give to the season of Lent, however while Advent is somber it is not nearly as somber as Lent.  Yet, the connection is nice as it helps turn our eyes to the humble suffering of Emmanuel who took on flesh to suffer in our place. You may also find blue candles, which represents hope. 

There are several traditions surrounding which each individual candle represents.  The most popular is that they represent hope, peace, joy, and love.  Because these words have sort of different connotations in our culture it's important to discuss how we have these gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love in Jesus.  Here's a suggestion of Bible verses you could use when lighting each candle each week.

Hope: Romans 15:12-13    

Peace: Isaiah 9:6-7

Joy: Psalm 51:10-12

              

Love: John 3:16 

The center candle of the wreath (if you have one) is finally lit on Christmas.  Our family counties to light all five candles though the 12 days of Christmas, leading up to Epiphany a season that takes the emphasis of Jesus as the light of the world even further.  

This year we have also added a little twist to our wreath.  As we learn the hymn 'Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel'  we add symbols to the wreath that we sing about in the hymn, such as a crown signifying Christ as the crown of wisdom.  

If you don't have an Advent wreath yet, that's okay, it's not to late to start one.  I've always made ours, as the store bought ones can be costly.  When the kids were very little and tempted to touch the flames I used small jar candles I found at the Dollar Store.  For the color I tied ribbon around the outside of the jar.  Using a charger as a base has proved to be handy also.  It keeps everything altogether and is easy to move about if need be.  This year I used small glass candle holders and arranged them in a circle on the charger, then I hot glued them down.  I filled in the space with green garland that I cut into just the right size pieces, which I also hot glued down as best I could.  You can also find patterns for paper Advent wreaths or punch out cards that fold in to a wreath.  Though I think these are actually more of a hassle as they tend to sort of flop about.  However,  it is totally fine to keep the project simple. Remember the wreath it's self is meant to be an aide to provide visual teaching moments keeping us focused on the anticipation of celebrating the coming of Christ our Savior. 

Continued Advent blessings! 

As always please feel free to share this with your friends.  

If you missed the previous posts in this little series: 

Holiday Season Traditions vs Advent Traditions

Advent Traditions I

Advent Traditions I: More Time In God's Word

As we continue this trek in looking at some of the traditions of Advent (read yesterdays post if you missed it) and how they aid us we start with gathering around God's Word.  If you are not doing devotions at home Advent is a good time to start. 

The Scripture Readings and the Liturgy

This season of preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ has a unique way of rooting us in our confession and practice.  Many of the Scripture readings echo though out the year in the song of the liturgy.  Advent reminds us the Church tells the story of Emmanuel, God with us, all year long.  The canticles from Luke, Mary's Magnificat,  Simeon's proclamation that his eyes have seen salvation, and John the baptist's cry from the wilderness, all find their place in the services of the Church week in and week out throughout the entire year. It's incredibly awesome when we are reading from Isaiah and the kids recognize the words that we sing and pray in the Divine Service and Prayer Services. 

And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”  Isaiah 6:3a 

Encouragement to spend time in God's Word

I totally get that when life is busy this can be a very difficult discipline to establish.  Start with a little bit at a time.  Keep your Bible, Hymnal, Catechism and devotions in a central location where you will remember them.  Pick a time of day where all the family members tend to be gathered anyhow.  One thing that tripped me up for a long tine was my ideology of wanting everything to go super smoothly and perfectly.  I would get frustrated if it took to long to get organized or if the kids were too wiggly.  Don't get discouraged.  Devotions at home take practice, much like learning how to worship in the Divine Service.  It's okay to start small adding a little bit the the routine at time.   I have learned that when life is at it's busiest the habit of family devotions does not add to the business but rather provides much needed connection with each other, rest, peace. 

As a family we are trying to intentionally take more time to gather around God's Word.  This is truly difficult.  It takes great discipline and all we can do is pray that the Holy Spirit would help us hear and contemplate the Word of God.  We regularly do devotions at night before bed time.  So as a family we are trying, and will fail some mornings, to add some devotion time to our morning routine.  For two night owls and morning zombies with four kids this is a challenge.  However the more time we spend taking the time to honor God's Word the more we love His Word.  Certainly this love is not of our own doing but the fruit of the Gospel.  

Resources 

I am very particular when it comes to devotions.  I don't care for the fluffy stuff that is the majority of stuff found at the local Christian bookstore.  I find most of it to be "me, me, me" centered, what I am doing rather than centered on what Christ has done for me though His vicarious death on the cross.  Good resources will be faithful to the law and proclaim the Gospel in all its sweetness.  

In the evenings we are using one of my favorite resources for kids from Creative Communications, 'What Color Is Christmas? Daily Devotions, Rhymes and Seek-and Find Pictures for Advent'.  Each devotion includes a text to look up in the Bible beginning in Genesis following the promise of a Savoir who brings new life though the Old Testament prophets and into the four Gospels.   The colors theme of the each set of devotions helps kids remember the narratives and the promises of God.
Of course the Hymnal is an excellent resource.  The Daily Prayer section in the Lutheran Service Book is perfect for home devotional use.  

My family also likes the Higher Things  Daily Reflections.  Because you can subscribe to receive each one daily via e-mail it really helps us stay organized.  These have worked well for our morning devotions this first week of Advent. 

The 'Treasury of Daily Prayer' is also a great resource for Advent and all year long. 

There are many other resources available.  What do you use?  What is your favorite text of Scripture that comes up in Advent? 

Holiday Season Traditions vs Advent Traditions

I love traditions, however the main stream cultural Christmas traditions can prove to be rather daunting.  We live in a culture that seems to buck at tradition until the holiday season arrives.  All of the sudden life is  buzzing with the the cultural traditions of shopping, presents, snowmen, reindeer, jingle bells and a man in a red suit.  Pop culture clings to these traditions.   I admit I do enjoy many of these things; like decorating the house, hanging lights, wrapping gifts, shopping, setting up (and sweeping up) a real tree, and simply enjoying family.  

Christmas movies are entertaining. Okay, well not all of them, we all know the ones that make our eyes roll.  I do think  'A Christmas Story' is hysterical.  I enjoy Charles Dickens 'Christmas Carol' with my kids.  There have been years we have taken our kids to see Santa, not always, as this is the first thing to go when it's too busy.  Also, last year our 3rd child was pleased to announce to the world that "Santa is not real".  Therefore, we had to be careful. Even "Elf On The Shelf" makes an appearance.  Gasp! please don't hate me. We got the thing before we knew the story.   Of course we don't let the kids think that the elf is actually reporting their behavior to Santa, that's silly.  We just enjoy the kids laughing at the funny stuff our elf has done over night.  Perhaps this is simply a type of bribery to get them up on a cold morning without being so grumpy.  

I enjoy, to a point, the Christmas plays and pageants, at least the kids are cute despite the cheesiness of the scripts.  The Nutcracker Ballet and Christmas concerts all captivate the imagination.  Attending a live performance of Handel's Messiah is at the top my Christmas tradition bucket list.  I could drive for hours scoping out the glitzy lights, sipping hot chocolate, and blasting Christmas music.  Christmas parties are also great fun with friends and family.  Eggnog kinda rocks but Tom & Jerrys are better! I think I will have to share my recipe in a future post.  Holiday cooking and baking are also exciting. Preparing old favorites and scrolling though Pinterest for new ideas certainly can be inspiring.  Decorating and making gingerbread houses are welcomed activities by the kids. There is great joy in hand-making sweet treats for others, and worth the mess in the kitchen, right?

Yes, this kind of nostalgia can offer some enjoyment, warm fuzzy feelings, and many darling memories. However, the fluffy spirituality of  "believe in the spirit of Christmas" is quickly fleeting.  By the time Christmas Eve rolls around many people are burnt out on the American Christmas.  All the movies have been watched, the songs have been over played, and the fake Santa's have shaved off their beards.  These traditions do not have much to offer beyond fun or memories.  In fact these traditions can have a way of adding to the "to-do list" and stress of the preparation rather than easing it with the peace of the season. 

So I whole hardheartedly have come to love the season of Advent.  For one thing it slows me down.  The season of Advent brings peace and rest in the mist of the holiday hustle.  Advent is a season of somber waiting and preparation.  The Church has taken the Advent journey from around the 6th century.  Many Christians find Advent to be helpful and useful.  Not because of the man made traditions but rather how the one true faith, as expressed in God's Word, shapes the traditions that have sought to build up and edify the people of God.  

The traditions of Advent help guide our meditation and prayer. Focusing on Christ who humbly took on human flesh to be the promised Messiah.  I cherish the shape this season gives to the practice of the Church and the life of the Christian.  Advent leads our anticipation, focusing us on repentance.  Advent proclaims the forgiveness that the Lamb of God brings to all the world.  The season begins the liturgical church year connecting us to the past, present, and future in new life of Christ.  The core emphasis of Advent is on the coming of Christ. This emphasis is three fold, Christ has come, Christ is come, Christ will come. 

The traditions of Advent include taking more time to spend in God's Word, lighting candles or an Advent wreath, setting out a nativity scene, singing great "O" Antiphons, serving the poor, and more.  All of these things help establish a pace for our preparation focusing our hearts and minds on Jesus who came to live, die, and rise again for us.  Over the next several days I will post a short piece each day discussing what I have come to appreciate about many of these these Advent traditions.  I will share with you haw we try to make these things a part of our family life.  I invite you to join me in this little Advent journey, please feel free to share your traditions or memories in the comments. 

Advent fills the life of the Christian with the illuminating light of Christ, giving hope, peace, love and joy in and out of season.