​PREPARE TO LISTEN with friends and family.
Light a candle and pray: My beloved is mine and I am his. (Song of Songs 2:16)
Request for Presence: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.  (Isaiah 9:2)
READ John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Invite one another to name what stood out to them as they listened; what questions they may have; what was intriguing or confusing.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  (From the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.)
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Request for Presence: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
READ Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.  When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Did Mary tell Joseph she was pregnant?  Or did someone else tell him when “she was found to be with child”?  Mary’s story is omitted in Matthew’s version, just as Joseph’s story is omitted in Luke’s version.  His immediate reaction to Mary’s pregnancy was to quietly break off the engagement.  This wasn’t his child.  An angel, in a dream, commanded otherwise.  Joseph had to take a giant leap of faith, obeying an angelic visitor despite the fact that the message was unbelievable—a son of Mary to be named Emmanuel, God with us; fulfillment of that ancient prophecy in Isaiah 7.  It cost Joseph to publically take Mary as wife and to wait with her for this child, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Wonder how Joseph felt at the prospect of being father to “God-With-Us.”  How might you feel?
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
In the glitz of Christmas plans, Jesus we often forget that your coming initially brought suffering to many people, especially Mary and Joseph.  Their obedience transformed them.  Help me today to embrace the suffering with obedience so that I too may live a transformed life.  To the praise of your glory, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

A REMINDER: The next Advent Post will be Christmas Eve.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Request for Presence: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
READ Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Paul knows how to pack good theology into a few verses!  However, I was struck with just one phrase: “the obedience of faith.”  Too often I’ve found myself in churches where faith is viewed as content to be believed.  I was taught the content, the right stuff to believe in order to be a good Christian.  I found it very burdensome.  Fortunately, I’ve also been in churches that emphasized “the obedience of faith.”  Faith is not merely content we must believe and no more.  Faith is also about obedience, that is, a life lived daily in response to God’s will.  Our ‘faith ‘content’ might not be 100 percent correct.  And that’s okay.  The real issue is our ‘walk’.  The question to ask ourselves is: Am I practicing obedience that demonstrates my faith?
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Jesus is God in the flesh.  Believing this great faith truth is the beginning, but just a beginning.  It will only grow deeper as we seek to live more obediently to God in Christ.  Ponder how you can practice a more consistent obedience today (the key word is practice).
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Lord, I often fail in my faith because I focus on the wrong thing—believing the right stuff, and nothing more.  Help me practice obedience and practice again and again, until I get better and better at “the obedience of faith” for the sake of your name and in gratitude for your sacrifice for my sin.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Request for Presence: You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
READ Psalm 146:5-10
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; 7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.  The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.  The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.  The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.  Praise the LORD!
REFLECTIVE WORDS
This psalm begins with a word used often in the Psalter, happy.  It’s a word that can be translated as ‘blessed’ or, better yet, ‘content’.  It denotes a settled conviction that this is right and thus the pray-er can rest fully in what is claimed.  Those whose help comes from the ‘God of Jacob’, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, can rest contentedly.  In the craziness of the Christmas season, contentedness and resting seem far removed from us.  Advent is, in part, a preparation to be trained in being content in the help our Lord God gives us.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
The psalmist does a wonderful job of naming some of the qualities of the God who is our help.  Pick one and focus on the picture of God it portrays.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Lord God, once again I look to you as my help.  May I, like you, watch over the strangers (aliens) among us, uphold the poor as I hope for your eternal reign for all generations.  Praise the LORD,  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Request for Presence: You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
READ Isaiah 35:1-10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.  The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.  They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.  Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear!  Here is your God.  He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.  He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.  For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.  A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.  No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.  And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
As I’ve struggled along the path of Christian spirituality, I’ve often wondered whether I’m still headed in the right direction.  I wonder, because so often the way doesn’t ‘feel’ quite right.  Yes, I know I have this longing for God and desire to live with God’s wisdom, but, I wonder still, is it the right way?  I treasure the assurance of the prophet’s words “no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.”  I keep walking the path in hope and faith that I, from the tribe of the ransomed, will return to a place that is new, with more joy and more gladness.  I keep taking the next step and then another, and another, one step at a time.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Where are you on the journey?  In what ways does this passage assure you?
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Sometimes Lord, I think I’m a fool and I fear losing the way.  Thank you for the assurance that I won’t lose my way because you’re the Guide on this journey of faith.  I long to sing with all your ransomed ones and experience everlasting joy and obtain joy and gladness, with no more sorrow and sighing.  Help me wait for you this Advent.  In your holy name, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Request for Presence: You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
READ James 5:7-11a
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.  The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged.  See, the Judge is standing at the doors!  As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.”  This isn’t merely good advice; it’s necessary for living in the now as we wait and long for Jesus.  This takes patience, lots of it.  Patience, as we all know, is difficult for us and therefore we need the admonition: “Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”  Those who do this will be called “blessed.”
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
If patience and strengthening our hearts involves, in part, ‘not grumbling against one another,’ reflect on where you’ve failed and confess, and reflect how you can practice this today.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Gracious Lord, I want to be called ‘blessed’ today by living a life that patiently waits for your coming.  I know I need to ‘strengthen my heart,’ resist ‘grumbling against one another’ in order to live in patient longing for your return.  Show me the way, I pray.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Request for Presence: You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
READ Matthew 11:7-11
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?  A reed shaken by the wind?  What then did you go out to see?  Someone dressed in soft robes?  Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.  What then did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
The reading begins with Jesus’ challenge to think about motives.  He challenged the crowd reflect on why they went out of the way to see and hear John the Baptizer.  He gives some interesting suggestions to help them thing—a reed shaken by the wind; one who wears soft clothes—all of which were extreme.  Jesus knew they went to see a prophet.  His challenge is to make them think why they needed to meet a prophet.  Jesus ends with a paradox.  John is lifted very high (none born of women greater) and yet is very low (the least in the kingdom is greater).  It suggests a question: Is the least in the kingdom Jesus himself, who sacrificed everything to enter our world?  It seems that Jesus is rejecting our common need of one-up-man-ship, reminding us that we’re all one in the kingdom.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Reflect for a moment on your motives for following Jesus today and for preparing to receive him again this Advent.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Jesus, your words challenge us to dig deep and get real about our motives for following you.  Help me today to live with integrity, faithfulness and obedience as I wait for your coming.  To glory of your name, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​DAY 1 (3rd week)
PREPARE TO LISTEN (in a quiet and least distracting place).
Light a candle and pray: O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.  (Psalm 43:3)
Request for Presence: You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!  (Psalm 70:5b)
READ Matthew 11:2-6
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”  Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.  And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Before prison, John was very confident in identifying Jesus as the Messiah of God.  In the confinement of prison, doubts crept in.  He wondered: Did he identify the right person as Messiah?  He sent his disciples to ask Jesus for assurance.  Jesus neither affirmed nor denied being Messiah.  And neither did he rebuke John for his present doubts.  Instead he invited the disciples of John to go back and tell the stories of all that he has done—a list of 6 different things, all of which the prophet Isaiah (Is 35) said Messiah would do.  He then included a word of encouragement: “blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
When I worked in children’s ministry years ago, the material I was required to use contained a story of a child who confessed to God his sin of doubt.  I struggled with that story.  Doubt isn’t a sin.  Jesus’ followers often experience doubts.  They often creep in uninvited and unexpected.  Be assured that Jesus won’t rebuke you and be thankful.  Name your doubts and stay alert today to what Jesus is doing and be assured.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Like John, I too need to ask again for assurance, Lord Jesus.  Keep me alert today to your different works in and around me so that I can be confident again.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: The LORD is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.
Request for Presence: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.
READ Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth.  Amen and Amen.
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Psalm 72 is a royal psalm and most likely prayed and sung at the coronation of a king.  The primary theme in this psalm is urging the king to practice justice.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Defending the needs and rights of the poor and oppressed is dear to the heart of God.  Justice for all will be a reality when Christ returns.  In this time of waiting, our present responsibility is practicing justice by attending to the needs of the poor, the oppressed, the despised, the immigrant; defending the rights of the disenfranchised and marginalized.  When we do so, we display Christ to the world.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Think about some of the verses as being about you and how you live today.  Rewrite them, using first person pronouns.  Wonder what the world would be like if all followers of Jesus lived this way.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Lord of Justice, May I defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.  May I be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.’  For the sake of your love for the people you created.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: The LORD is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.
Request for Presence: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.
Be still and silent: Be aware of and then let go all distractions, both those from within (concerns about the day, etc) and those from without (uncontrollable noises).
READ Romans 15:7-13
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.  As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Advent is a time for us to also attend to one another.  Not just the ‘one another’ as in those we like, live and pray with, but also to those unlike us and perhaps difficult for us to love.  The mostly Jewish church of Paul’s day had to learn to welcome and love those formerly despised because so different to them, the Gentiles.  Paul used the Old Testament to support the Christian requirement to love and welcome ‘the other’ in our midst as Christ has welcomed us.  In doing so, we truly welcome Christ, experiencing his presence among us this Advent.  Welcoming Jesus also means welcoming all those Jesus loves and receives, regardless of race, tribe, creed, gender identity.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Ask yourself: Who am I avoiding because I fear or distrust them?  How can I welcome the other as Christ has welcomed me for the glory of God?
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
I’m deeply grateful, Lord Christ, that you have welcomed me into your family.  I’m also deeply ashamed that I so often fail to show the same welcome to people around me.  Through the power of your Spirit within, help me step out of my comfort zone and reach out to those I’ normally avoid.  And all for your glory, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: The LORD is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.
Request for Presence: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.
READ Isaiah 11:1-10
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.  He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.  Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.  The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.  The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.  They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
There are 3 main ‘characters’ in this text.  The first one appears in the first and again in the last verse—‘the root of Jesse’.  This is a reference to Messiah Jesus.  The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon him.  Note the somewhat detailed description the prophet gives about Jesus, the Messiah.  An important task of Messiah is to bring peace to all creation.  This is evident in the second character. the animal kingdom.  Twelve different kinds of animals are named, mostly wild, a reminder that salvation isn’t confined to human beings.  All creation is waiting with us for Messiah’s coming to restore it to original goodness.  The third ‘character’ is ‘the little child’ who will safely lead and play with the wild animals.  There are no adult humans in this passage.  The picture is beautiful, of peace and harmony; a picture to keep us longing for Messiah, Jesus to come again.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
List the attributes of the Spirit that will rest upon Jesus and then wonder how you, called to be like Jesus, can promote these this Advent of waiting.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Lord Jesus, our Messiah and King, we long for this vision of perfect peach and harmony in all creation.  Show me how to live today so that I begin to display such harmony in the small bit of world that wonder in today.  And may the earth be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: The LORD is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.
Request for Presence: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.
READ Matthew 3:7-12
But when [John] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Like Jesus after him, John was very bold in his rebuke to the Pharisees and Sadducees.  I’d loved to have seen their faces when John denounced them to the crowd as ‘a brood of vipers.’  Such confrontational language isn’t appropriate in our day, but John’s warning of judgment is.  It’s a message we need to heed.  As Christmas comes, we’ll get a little sentimental about a baby in a manger and forget what that baby came to do and will do in a future time.  John’s confrontational words bring us back to reality.  Judgment comes with Jesus and calls us to radical repentance that is only possible through the power of the Spirit within; a power that isn’t nice and comforting, but a fire that leads us to wholeness.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Repentance literally means ‘to change our views,’ to turn around and go in the opposite direction.’  What changes in your views and ways do you need to make today to be more in line with the good news of Jesus?  Remember, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can ‘turn around.’
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
Lord Jesus Christ, today I confess that I have sinned against you in so many ways.  Right now I name these ways … (add your known sins).  I name them to you because you are the one who shows mercy and forgives.  Thank you for giving me the Spirit so that I can make a change a direction where it’s needed.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​DAY 1 (2nd week)
PREPARE TO LISTEN (in a quiet and least distracting place)
Light a candle and pray: The LORD is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.  (2 Samuel 23:4)
Request for Presence: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. (Psalm 67:1)
Be still and silent: Be aware of and then let go all distractions, both those from within (concerns about the day, etc) and those from without (uncontrollable noises).
READ Matthew 3:1-6
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”  Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Old Testament prophet Elijah was described as ‘A hairy man, with a leather belt around his waist’ (1 Kings 1:8).  John’s clothing would have caused the Jews of his day to think of Elijah, whom many believed would return to announce Messiah when he came.  John deliberately dressed to look like that ancient and very significant prophet.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
John, it seems, believed that in his ministry, perhaps even in himself, the kingdom of heaven had come near.  From that lofty thought, Mathew shifts attention to the mundane—John’s dress and eating habits.  While none of us are a John the Baptist, we, as followers of Jesus today, are also messengers sent to prepare the way for Jesus.  In this sense, even in the mundane of ordinary life where we worry about food and clothing, we too are involved in the awesome task of bringing the kingdom of God nearby.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Wonder how today in the different experiences and opportunities you can bring the kingdom of God near to those around you.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.  
I know I’m not a John the Baptist but I also know, O Christ, that through your Spirit in me I can live in such a way that your kingdom comes nearer to my world today.  Keep me alert to this all day today.  In your name I pray, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Request for Presence: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Be still and silent.  Be aware of and then let go all distractions, both those from within (concerns about the day, etc) and those from without (uncontrollable noises).
READ Romans 13:11-14
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.  Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.  Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. 
REFLECTIVE WORDS
‘You know what times it is.’  Paul is very confident of our knowing!  As we prepare for a celebration of Christ’s entry into the world, we’re reminded again what time it is; a time when ‘salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.’  This is not the time for procrastination, something so many of us practice.  This is the time for repentance, making those about-face decisions in order to walk in the Way of Jesus.  ‘Put on the Lord Jesus Christ,’ Paul urges, with no explanation of meaning or practice.  Whatever it means, when we practice it, it will no longer be I who lives but Christ who lives in and through me.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Reflect on what time it is and what you’re being called to by the Spirit in this time of expectant waiting.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.
God of the day, I pray for your people around the world that we may all put on Christ and show the world what time it really is, the time of Christ’s coming.  For the praise of your glory, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Request for God's Presence: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
READ Psalm 122
I was glad when they said to me,
   ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ 
Our feet are standing
   within your gates, O Jerusalem. 
Jerusalem—built as a city
   that is bound firmly together. 
To it the tribes go up,
   the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
   to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 
For there the thrones for judgment were set up,
   the thrones of the house of David. 
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
   ‘May they prosper who love you. 
Peace be within your walls,
   and security within your towers.’ 
For the sake of my relatives and friends
   I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ 
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
   I will seek your good.
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Psalms 120-134 are all headed ‘Song of Ascent.’  It is likely that pilgrims prayed these psalms when they went up (ascended) to the temple in Jerusalem in anticipation of experiencing God’s presence.  (Jerusalem was built on a mountain.)
REFLECTIVE WORDS
It’s as though the psalmist has taken heed to the call in Isaiah 2, ‘Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD.’  There is gladness and gratitude even though there is also judgment.  There ought also be gladness and gratitude as we look forward to Christ’s coming even though we know there will also be judgment.  But there is hope, and so we can still say, ‘Peace be within you,’ and still seek the other’s good.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
‘Peace be within you,’ goes very deep and thus will affect all of the person’s life.  Name before the Lord those who need this inner peace today.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.
Jesus, you came to bring peace, that peace that goes deep within our being and changes attitudes and behavior.  As I long for your presence, grant me peace that I in turn may give peace to those with whom I meet today.  Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Request for Presence: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
READ Isaiah 2:2-5
In days to come
   the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
   and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it. 
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
   to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
   and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
   and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 
He shall judge between the nations,
   and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
   and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
   neither shall they learn war any more. 
O house of Jacob,
   come, let us walk
   in the light of the LORD!
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In Bible times mountain was considered to be the place where the gods dwelt.  The god on the highest mountain was the greatest god.  Isaiah, like other biblical writers, borrows that imagery and thus mountain is symbolic of the presence of the God of Israel.  The fact that God’s mountain is ‘the highest of the mountains,’ is a claim to God’s Sovereignty over all nations and gods.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Isaiah pictures the day when all nations, regardless of language or creed, will live together in beautiful peace and harmony.  In the day of the LORD’s coming, many peoples (plural) will voluntarily seek God in order to be taught God’s ways and walk in God’s paths.  They will voluntarily destroy all weapons of war and no longer attack one another.  We long for this day, but we, the people of God, are called now to practice living like this in our particular world and nation.  We’re to welcome and embrace immigrants, aliens, those unlike us.  In this day of anti-immigrant hatred, Isaiah’s message is like a sword cutting into our that behavior marginalizes and excludes others.  We should encourage all peoples to cry, ‘Come let us go up….’  Then the echo response from God’s people should be, ‘Come let us walk in the light of the LORD.’
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
In this day when so many urge us to exclude various people groups because of their race, religion and even gender identity, what would it look like if all God’s people rejected that way and instead chose to walk in the light of the LORD?  Prayerfully consider whom you could welcome and embrace today to practice this amazing vision of peace and harmony between all peoples?
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.
Sovereign Lord of all nations, help me today to reach out to those who’ve been sidelined by our society, our politics, our churches.  Help me today to demonstrate what it means to walk in your light. In the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN
Light a candle and pray: O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Request for God's Presence: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Be still and silent (for a few minutes).  Be aware of and then let go all distractions, both those from within (concerns about the day, etc) and those from without (uncontrollable noises).
READ Matthew 24:40-44
Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.  Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Too often these verses have been used as a warning that Jesus is coming to take his own and leave others behind.  The assumption then becomes that the ‘evil’ are left behind while the ‘saints’ are taken.  For now, let this assumption go and know what you see.
REFLECTIVE WORDS
Christ’s coming will be quick and surprising to many.  We’re not waiting for Jesus to miraculously pull us out of our ‘fields’ and ‘meal grinding’ (‘classrooms’ and ‘offices,’ whatever your daily business) and take us up to him.  We’re waiting for him to come to us in our daily chores and life.  We are to keep alert to all that comes in to ‘steal’ from our lives and faith.  We maintain readiness by attending to Jesus in his Word, in the circumstances of our present life and the world around us.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
Jesus’ coming will be at “an unexpected hour.”  Being ready for him requires constant, daily practice.  Wonder and name what being ready for Jesus will like for you this day.
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER.
Lord, it’s so easy to sing, ‘Soon and very soon we’re going to see the King,’ but not so easy to wait for this marvelous day.  Keep my hope alive, my ears and eyes attentive, as I try practice today living my life in constant readiness for you in the little things of my day.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.

​PREPARE TO LISTEN (in a quiet and least distracting place)
Light a candle and pray: O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!  (Isaiah 2:5)
Request for God's Presence: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.  (Psalm 80:3)

READ Matthew 24:36-39 (Jesus is speaking) But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
MEDITATIVE WORDS
Noah’s generation responded to his dire warnings of imminent judgment (a catastrophic flood) with an apathetic, ‘Whatever.’  They refused to believe anything bad would ever happen to them.  It’s easy for us today to respond with our own silent, ‘Whatever,’ whenever we are reminded of Jesus’ imminent return.  Jesus’ words in Matthew remind us that Jesus’ Advent will also be a time of judgment and that we are to get ready.  First, by not being like Noah’s generation that ‘knew nothing until the flood came.’  Second, by staying alert and ready for Jesus’ coming, not only in the future, but also in the various happenings of our life today.
REFLECTIVE WONDERING
In what ways do you live so that you can be alert to seeing and experiencing Jesus’ coming into your life today?
RESPOND TO JESUS IN PRAYER. 
​Lord Jesus, I confess that I too tend to respond with an apathetic, ‘whatever’ to preparation for your advent.  This Advent Season, help me prepare to celebrate your birth with joyous anticipation of your coming again to restore all creation, including myself.  Accept my prayer offered in your name, Amen.
BE SILENT AND STILL (for as long as you want).  Simply be in the presence of Jesus, who loves you, regardless.