First Sunday of Advent
Reading 1 Is 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
The word advent is derived from the Latin word for coming. During this season churches emphasize the history of God’s people, painting a backdrop against the birth of the Christ child, the fulfillment of the prophesies and promises foretold in the Old Testament scriptures. There is a duality about the season. While we joyously anticipate the birth of Mary’s baby, the Incarnate Son Of God, we are reminded by the readings and traditions of the season that we also prepare for and anticipate the return of the Lord in his glory.
We wish you the most joyous of holiday seasons, and hope that you and your loved ones find time to share the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season.
I have the distinct honor of being the reader at my catholic church mass tomorrow where I will be proclaiming these powerful words of prophesy to my fellow Christians. What a blessing to proclaim such glad tidings and exciting news. Praise God for his incredible love for us unworthy souls. I do feel enormous thanks for living in this free country Of the USA-terribly flawed though it may be.
Thanks Managerie for helping us get this season started right-focusing on the God who loves us so much he sent His only son to save us and be with us.
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Thank you Managerie and William,
Benedicus Antiphon
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, Mary. Do not be afraid, for you will bear in your womb the Son of God., alleluia.
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O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go
[Refrain]
O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of peace
[Refrain]
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Thanks Molly, my favorite Christmas song!
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No words except this.
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Amen and Amen!😇
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Beautiful indeed. Fills the soul with longing and the hope for redemption.
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Perfect for a Sunday morning prayerful reflection. Thank you A2 — REJOICE!
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Thank you A2. Where there is beauty there is God, for God is found in all things that are beautiful!
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Beautiful. The piano brings rain from Heaven as the Cello reaches into the upper register towards the sky. The duo play (pray?) their hymn amid the ancient and arid stones. (sniffling a little, now)
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Exquisite – such beauty…
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So beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for posting this. When my sister’s and I were young, my mother made up a version of thus song for us since we had a hard time learning the real one you posted. It went something like: Oh come, oh come, baby Jesus, and bring to us your happiness, we wait these for long years for you, until you come on Jesus day, be glad, be glad, everyone, the Lord is coming soon. Singing this song seems like centuries ago. It brings back so many good memories o my sister’s and me.
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The first Christmas we were married my sister in law gave us a ceramic Advent wreath. Nearly two decades later, I still set it out on our kitchen table during Advent and at dinner we still turn off all the lights and light the candle(s) and sing the first verse and refrain of O Come Emmanuel. It’s a beautiful, haunting chant and really accentuates our longing for the Christ. I find the tradition has been an easy, engaging way to keep the whole family ( even little kids) focused on the spiritual before Christmas.
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The Tradition of Advent
https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/advent.shtml
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Thank you 2Alpha, Just printed it out to read tonight when we light our advent candle 🙂
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Thank you for sharing that bit of history.
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Amen Menagerie and William!
God showed His love for us that, in the fullness of time, while we were yet sinners, He sent His only begotten Son to reconcile unto Himself those who believe in His birth, death and resurrection. And indeed, we longingly await His return. Amazing grace.
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Please remember in your prayers, the Christians in China also. We are one in the brethren of Christ.
Thank you.
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Yes brothers in Christ!
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A2, Amen.
More practicing Christians in China than in Europe.
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ADVENT: THE CURTAIN FALLS
by Fr. George Rutler
Given the many theatres that are or have been within walking distance of our church on 34th Street, it is not possible to count the number of times stage curtains have come down on a final act. One block away from us is the theatre built by Oscar Hammerstein, to compete with the old Metropolitan Opera House up on Broadway at 39th.
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/advent-the-curtain-falls
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Thank you for sharing Advent: The Curtain Falls — Printed the article out too to read later – Busy advent lighting tonight 😉
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Best of lines from above article/sermon – I am inspired this AM – Thank you all!
“The Church’s mission is to save souls. Evil, in this world, comes from sin. Not from income disparity or “climate change.” The solution is: Evangelization. Conversion. Not an ever-increasing government control. Not a world government. These are nowadays the main agents imposing cultural Marxism on our nations, under the form of population control, reproductive health, gay rights, gender education and so on. What the world needs nowadays is not limitation of freedom, but real freedom, liberation from sin. Salvation.”
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God bless you, Sundance
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Come, Lord Jesus. Come!
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Our hope and joy! Come Lord Jesus!
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I’m an Eastern Catholic, srarting our church year Sept 1 and we’re on Ephesians 4:1-6, with St Paul telling us we’re Christians and need to act like it.
We began Phillips fast Nov 15, basically fall lent.
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Thank you, Menagerie.
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God Bless and Protect Them
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Piano Guys are a favorite of mine.
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‘Tis December..
Rituals..
It is the Ultimate Mystery.. from our Ancestors to the present.. we have tried to figure it all out..
After thousands of years.. just admit it.. we are incapable of comprehending it All.. It is the one threshold that requires a leap of Faith..
All Legends have a core of Truth.. a Mystery to be unraveled.. Treasure to be discovered.. Everlasting Life..
Books can become corrupted by men.. it doesn’t mean that it is all untrue.. use wisdom.. and discernment..
It’s all connected.. God’s Creation is mirrored in harmony.. in all that is Good.. You want to know answers about the universe.. muse upon a patch of seaweed in the vast ocean..
The birth of our Savior is reflected in many things.. mirrored in the actions of heavenly bodies.. and their effect on our world.. it is This because it is His Creation.. It is perfect in its balance.. In its cycles.. cycle upon cycle.. upon cycle.. It is Endless.. Everlasting..
As for us on this tiny rock we call Earth.. By mere observations of the heavens and the earth.. I know that He is the Answer.. A Force.. that came to us through a Man.. He is The Door..
All of us cannot get to Everlasting Life in Harmony with the Creator of the Universe.. unless we go through the Doorway He sent us.. A Doorway manifested in someone we could relate to.. someone who looked like us.. I mean.. how more plain could He make it Be..
Through a Man called Jesus Christ.. somebody had to do it.. might as well be Him..
The Life Force of the Universe.. The Creator.. God.. was sent to us.. through one of our own.. because the Creator of the Heavens found us worthy..
We all only have one chance.. So don’t blow it..
Faith..
Rituals..
Harmony..
In their purest form.. from the Heart.. they have a Purpose.. a Power.. an Everlasting one..
Just sayin’..
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They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
AMEN
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God be with us all ,throughout the world.
Come Jesus, Come.
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AMEN
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The first Sunday of advent in the Anglican Church of America begins with the great litany of repentance, followed by lighting the first candle of the Advent wreath. A short lesson/prayer is offered by a parish family with each Sunday’s lighting, symbolic of hope, faith love and joy.
Later in the day comes the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, This is a beautiful service of scripture readings and music designed to calm the soul and reflect upon the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wishing you all the essence of the Advent season.
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Perhaps a few readers here might appreciate this website below.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, points the way to the Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. His love for the Holy Trinity was immeasurable.
The Saint Nicholas Center’s website is a treasury of materials: Prayers, sermons, recipes, history, art, music, architecture, books, films, children’s activities, church gazetteer, and so forth.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org
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Thank you Menagerie for the wonderful message, so beautiful.
God bless.
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Maranatha!
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Bravoooooo!!!!
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Thank you and Bless you, Menagerie..beautiful message
Merry CHRISTmas, Dear Treepers.
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So late today getting to this post.
So busy working forgot it was advent.😕
Thank you!
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I have been reading here for about a year now. I have learned a lot and keep learning every day. This is a place that I trust. So to all of You here and especially Sundance I just want to say Merry Christmas to all of You!
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Thought you might like this. The song is called Et misericordia, from the Magnificat suite composed by Kim André Arnesen. Here it is performed by the Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir and Trondheim Soloists.
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