Hey! It isn’t Christmas yet

The most counter cultural thing a Christian can do today is to refuse the drive to Christmas. If you watched the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving, Santa came riding in at the end of the parade with the bold symbolic statement that Christmas has come. The commercialization of Christmas is obvious. “Santa has come, the Christmas season is here, so come shop with us.”
The last thing our culture wants to do in this season is wait. We don’t want to hear about voices crying out in the wilderness, of a young woman wrestling with what the child she carries means for her and the world, or even about some long off time when Christ will come again. With all the decorations and advertisements we are collectively saying “Get on it with it.” Just like a child unable to control the excitement, who treasure hunts around the house for gifts, we want the celebration now. None of this waiting business.
Yet, in truth, this is Advent. It is not Christmas. We are waiting. We are preparing.
To observe Advent is to push back on our culture of consumption and immediacy. To observe Advent is THE Christian practice for our time. For in Advent we acknowledge the delay. We recall the Hebrew people waiting for the Promised One. And we proclaim the fact that we are liminal people. We live in the now-and-not-yet-ness of our faith. Jesus has come, and we wait for him to come again.
We wait.
Waiting is so uncomfortable because we have to acknowledge both our longing and our lacking. When we confront our longing, we realize that there is something we lack. That is very definition of desire. We want what we don’t have. And when we see our longing played out each Sunday of Advent we are confronted with the very reality that we are not yet in the fullness of God’s embrace. In a culture that celebrates immediacy, consumption, and satisfaction, such a realization is nearly anathema.
In Advent we embody both our longing and come to terms with the very distance between us and God. Christians today have bought into our culture of immediacy, preaching a Gospel of God’s full presence. To even hold the season and practice of Advent counters the way we have tried to share the Good News. Advent, then, chastens us as followers of Jesus by reminding us that God is both with us and yet before us. It forces us to accept the distance between us and Christ. Christ is not “in us” but coming. Christ is not here, but is calling us into the fullness of faith.
At the close of his beautiful memoir, The Seven Story Mountain, Thomas Merton put words to this paradox.
“I no longer desire to see anything that implies a distance between You and me: and if I stand back and consider myself and You as if something had passed between us, from me to You, I will inevitably see the gap between us and remember the distance between us.
My God, it is that gap and that distance which will kill me.”
To the world around us, living in want and wait does seem like death. Why wait for anything when everything is right here? Why wallow in longing when satisfaction is so easy? And for the dominant theology of our time, preparing for the coming of Christ contradicts the very immanence we preach. Why prepare for Christ when we have Christ now, in our hearts, and will go to heaven when we die? Why all this business of rough places smoothed, valleys lifted up, mountains made low, the overthrow of the powerful, and the proud humbled?
It is Advent sisters and brothers, and there is no greater resistance than to hold this season of waiting. Advent is counter cultural.

They laid Jesus there

2015 COVER


John 19:38-42

Question:
His presence was gone. They felt empty, anxious and alone. The only time when Jesus would not be available to them. So then, imagine
the warmth and joy they felt when He appeared with a promise – He would be with them … always.
How do you deal with your circumstances? Is there a way you can be still in His company and gain His peace?

 

Prayer:
God, teach us to live in the secret of your presence.
Amen.

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotional written by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Spiritual thirst

2015 COVER


Psalm 107:4-9

Question:
How often do we think about our lives in the way of fulfillment? How has God entered and filled you? In what ways are you still hungry and thirsty for God?


Prayer:

Creator, we need you. We know we are filled by you, and yet, we recognize those parts within our lives and within us that are lacking complete nourishment. Thank you for your presence; on this day, we offer ourselves to be open and completely filled, even those parts we cannot bear to let anyone see.

~ Kristen Hoffman, Coordinator, CCS and National Junior High Conference

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotional written by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Forsaken?

2015 COVER

Psalm 22:1-22

Prayer:

Compassionate God, we ask all the “Why?” questions and receive little consolation. But when we pause to look back over previous months or years, we can see you were there with us. We just were unaware of your presence. Open our hearts to receive your compassion.

Practice:
Sit quietly, be alert, and be aware of your surroundings. Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks.

~ David Doudt, member of the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors Network

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotional written by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Humming along with Asaph

AWAKE_ADVENT_4

Psalm 79

Question for reflection:
What happens to our soul when we harbor anger or bitterness? The psalmist many times encourages us express our troubles to the Lord — “…pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8). What would be different if we would describe to God what seems wrong and unfair …. and listen for his response?

Prayer for the day:

Gracious Father, grant us a quick avenue into your presence when circumstances cause us anger. Transform us as we pour out our hearts and distress …. and wait for Your insight.  Amen.

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent Devotional written by Sandy Bosserman, a former district executive and ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Sandy’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

 

Live stream

AWAKE_ADVENT_4Micah 4:1-5

Question for reflection:
As we begin the Advent season I am reminded of The Practice of the Presence of God – the book by Brother Lawrence which tells of his journey to so completely permeate his life with prayer–that he is in constant communion with God.
What is one simple step you could take to slow down and deepen your experience of God’s presence?

Prayer for the day:

Glorious God! As One who knows us well, help us repair to your mountain — that space where we can breathe in who you are and listen at your feet.  May we hearken to your soft whispers of guidance. Help us to be awake to possibilities that weren’t obvious before.

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent Devotional written by Sandy Bosserman, a former district executive and an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Sandy’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

No time to be alone

LENT_real_rest_FRONTPAGELuke 22:39-46

Prayer for the day:

For our frailness and for our strength, which are so intertwined, we give you thanks, Great Comforter. Work through us to touch the lives of others, even when we are completely unaware of your movement. Help us to help each other, Lord.

Question for reflection:

Think of a time when someone unknowingly said just the thing you didn’t know you needed to hear. What did that feel like? Once you became more aware of the burden you were carrying/your own humanity, was Jesus present to you in that moment? What did that feel like?

~ Becky Ullom-Naugle, Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Hush, God is speaking

LENT_real_rest_FRONTPAGE

 

1 Kings 19:11-13; Mark 4:35-41

 

Prayer for the day:
God of all things great and small, help us to be mindful of not only of your greatness, but also that you are quietly present with us in small ways. Let us be that calming presence as well, in each of our relationships.


Question for reflection:

As spring begins, go outside and mark off just one square inch of ground. Where do you see God in this small space?

~ Donna Kline, Director of Denominational Deacon Ministry

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Fear not

2013 Advent good_news_hi_res  Luke 1:12

Prayer for the day:
God, surprise us this week with your hopeful presence, in an area of our lives where we doubt and are fearful. Help us to notice and not be afraid. Amen.

Question for reflection:
In what areas of life do you have doubts, concerns, and fears? How can you share those with God and invite God in to walk with you through them?

~ Tim Heishman, National Youth Conference Coordinator

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent Devotional written by Tim Harvey, pastor of Central Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Tim’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Holy pedigree

2013 Advent good_news_hi_res Matthew 1:1-17

Prayer for the day:
God of the Ages,
as we read through the holy lineage of Jesus, we become more aware of your movement through the generations and the many lives you have touched. Help us feel your presence in our lives so that we can share the Good News of Jesus with our world today.
Amen

Question for reflection:
How are you sharing the Christmas story with others this Advent season?

~ Kim Ebersole, Director of Family Life and Older Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent Devotional written by Tim Harvey, pastor of Central Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Tim’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.