PREPARE: Advent Week Three
Gentle Liturgies to create a moment to pause and reflect as we prepare
Trees in the Desert. Light in the Darkness.
There is no such thing as behind in your practice of Advent. To that end, I have been relishing in my slowing down and subsequently did not post the week’s liturgies until Monday. Rather than smashing it in to the end of my Sunday evening in a frantic pace I chose to wait until today so that I could create this week’s offering with peace and love rather than pressure and distractedness. It’s amazing how easily we get pulled into the current of craziness this time of year. I am hopeful that even in the delay found here you discover permission to slow down so that you may prepare with love.
This week we are reflecting on the practice of preparing. How can we be people of love as we prepare? I love this question as it is, for me, in the preparing that I can most easily lose my way. To prepare in love requires time and attention, it is that pace I pray we keep as the week unfolds.
There is no shortage of Advent studies these days. I encourage you to choose the one you prefer, or continue on in your readings as you have been all year. The liturgies below are short scripts of prayers and scripture and reflection for you to practice as you light advent candles throughout the coming weeks. There is a rhythm to liturgy that is beautiful. As you work your way through the coming weeks we will continue to recite and meditate on Isaiah 41:19-20. I have three liturgies for each week. Use them as you like. There is no such thing as being behind on Advent so wherever you find yourself tonight on this first night of Advent know that the waiting is always good.
Thank you for reading The Table with Jessica Herberger. I wrote these liturgies as a gift and would be so happy to have you share them with those you know.
Throughout Advent, every time we light an advent candle(s) we recite this scripture and prayer:
Advent Focus Scripture
Isaiah 41: 19-20
19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, 20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Advent Prayer
Just like the seeds found in the cones of junipers, fir and cypress trees, we see the hope of new life in the gift of Jesus. When we look at a pinecone, we are reminded of the promise of what is yet to be. The seeds buried deep within, requiring heat, warmth, even fire, to release them, remind us of the power of the light. May we see God’s hand at work as we look around us. May we see the trees in the desert. May we look for the light. May we slow down enough to consider and understand, to see and to know that God is with us.
Throughout Advent, every time we light an advent candle(s) we recite this scripture and prayer.
Welcome the Week Liturgy
Light three candles, recite Advent focus scripture and prayer (above).
Read aloud or to yourself:
This third week of advent we are called to consider Preparing.
How can we be people of love as we prepare?
Isaiah 40:1-5
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
While the world around us crashes into Christmas, we yearn to first be people of Advent, people of preparing with love. We remember John the Baptist who was the voice in the wilderness preparing the way as we too prepare. We anticipate a time of rejoicing. We recognize God’s love for us. Help us to be people of love as we prepare to once again welcome Christ. May we welcome Advent with glad hearts-waiting, anticipating, preparing, celebrating. Amen.
Mid-Week Liturgy
Light three candles, recite Advent focus scripture and prayer (above).
Read aloud or to yourself:
As we prepare this week, may we welcome the reminder of how hard it is to stay loving in our preparation. May we find comfort in knowing that the most important things have already been prepared for us and with love, we too step into preparation this season.
Isaiah 40: 1-2
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
These can be shared aloud or journaled on your own.
What is a way you can welcome preparation during this season of Advent?
(Instead of making a to-do list consider calling it a preparations list to remind yourself of the joy of preparing for this season, take some time now to plan out how to make Jesus part of your Christmas day rejoicing.)
What is something you can do while you prepare to maintain a posture of love?
(Read through the passages about John the Baptist and find companionship with him as you make way for the Way, remind yourself that preparing now for the festivities is also a way to love yourself as you will have less to do last minute.)
While the world rushes through tasks to get them done may we prepare with love thanking God for His comfort. Amen.
End of Week Reflection
Light three candles, recite Advent focus scripture and prayer (above).
Read aloud or to yourself:
As we reflect on this week of preparing we confess how easy it is to get swept up into the rush and hustle of the world around us. As we sit in preparation, remembering that we have the joy of knowing the Messiah already, may we remember we are the ones who (soon) get to rejoice in his birth while we also long for his return. Help us to carry forward a posture of preparing with love as we continue to sit in the beauty of Advent. May we be people of comfort as we do.
Share with each other how the week of preparing with love has been. Reflect on how preparing from a a place of love is a way you brought comfort this week. Share as you are led.
Close with this simple prayer:
Help us to carry forward a posture of preparing with love as we continue to sit in the beauty of Advent. May we be people of hope as we do. Amen.
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