Tag Archives: advent

FROM SIMPLE TO EVERLASTING

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What does a clothes hanger bent in the shape of a circle and small strips of green and red tissue paper have in common?

Reflecting back on a Christmas season in my fifth grade class, where art projects were created under the guidance of our primary teacher, this particular year Miss McKenzie taught us how to make a simple–and by no means elegant–Christmas wreath. 

I’m pretty sure each one of us kids in her classroom provided our own coat hanger. As was custom in her class, every Friday afternoon was dedicated to art. This meant that when we returned from lunch break, we had about two glorious hours to focus on working with our hands to create art projects that came alive using simple materials.

Making our wreath involved twisting and shaping our wire clothes hanger into a good circle–no wood or plastic ones would host this project! Layers and layers of red and green tissue paper were then gently torn or crudely cut to form strips of paper that we twisted around the wire, pushing each strip close to its neighbor until the entire circle was full. Then, we checked our final work, fluffing and adjusting each strip where necessary. Ribbon to form a bow was provided by our teacher as well, giving our wreath its final touch.

Where did Christmas wreaths originate? If we can trust wikipedia this site says:

The Christmas wreath originated from ancient traditions where circular arrangements of evergreen branches symbolized life and renewal during winter. It became associated with Christmas in the 16th century when Christians in Germany began using wreaths to mark the Advent season, representing eternal life and the promise of Christ’s coming.

One of my daily devotions from this week focused on the words found in Jeremiah 31: 3 where God spoke through this prophet…Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. (New Living Translation)

As I listened to the short reflection from the devotional reader, I learned that our tradition of putting up evergreen trees and hanging a wreath of greens on our front doors symbolizes love and hospitality. In addition, it’s common understanding that a circle is eternal; it has no beginning or ending which depicts God’s love and promises for us perfectly! Evergreen trees represent life, hope, and actually fare well in cold winter months thus reminding us of how our own lives can be resilient under pressures from outward influence and circumstances.

My tissue paper wreath from that long ago year of 1963 is long gone … .I remember taking it home when it was finished and my mom hanging it on our front door. I don’t recall if it survived being packed away with other decor when the holidays ended but I have fond memories that a simply crafted 5th grade art project helped to adorn my childhood home, hopefully letting all who entered know they were welcomed and much loved.

Now, in my own home, we have a beautiful lighted wreath that we display every year. It’s too large for the front door but absolutely beautiful hanging on the front of the house near the living room window. My hope is that passersby enjoy the beauty of its glow in night skies and all who enter our home feel welcomed and loved, enjoying hospitality blanketed under the beauty of the Advent season.

As much as I love having our modern wreath I admit a bit of melancholy emotions rise inside me as I think back how my simple 5th grade tissue paper wreath didn’t survive from year to year, yet as it eventually made its way to being discarded, the memories still linger and fill my heart with great joy.

Kind of what Jeremiah said about God’s love. Everlasting. 

PERFECT LOVE

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Sitting on top of our Christmas tree is an angel. In her hands she’s holding an open book of sheet music, symbolizing how we sing carols that remind us of the good news the angels delivered to shepherds on the night of the Christ child’s birth. Angels–God’s personal messengers–played an important role announcing God’s plan of salvation to mankind through the arrival of His Son. So, it is fitting that the fourth candle on the advent wreath is referred to as the “Angel Candle”. Some sources refer to this candle as symbolizing peace while others say it is representing love. No matter which we may settle on, this candle–when lit–brings us full circle around a wreath reminding us to seek hope, peace, joy and now love.

A quick online search for the definition of “love”, primarily from the Greek language (our New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common language in its time) revealed there are eight different definitions of this word. It’s fair to say that depending on which word was used for describing love, a reader or someone engaged in conversation would understand what was being conveyed.

I dare say, in comparison, that in our English language the word “love” is used to describe our emotions for a broad variety of things, including how we feel about another person. Here’s some examples how we throw around this word:

  • I absolutely love my children
  • I love cheesecake
  • I love the new TV series I’m watching
  • I love watching my kids play their favorite sport
  • I love my dog
  • I love seeing loving in action
  • I love…..(fill in the blank)

What about God’s love for us? How is His deep affection for us defined We can find an answer in the Greek word “agape”. Agape love is considered as selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial–the highest form of unconditional love. God’s love endures forever, too.

Words from the prophet Jeremiah tell us “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. 

Isn’t it amazing how God’s love spans all of time. This Ancient of Days as He is sometimes called, has no boundaries trying to hold back what He graciously pours out from generation to generation!  In another beautiful hymn written by Issac Watts the last verse sums up how one man described God’s love:

  • Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.

As we move from Advent’s preparation of our hearts and minds to anticipate and greet the arrival of Jesus, may we take time to ponder God’s love. His love IS amazing. It IS divine. It is matchless, full of wonder, power, grace, mercy, and so much more…

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in  the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36-7)

May the love of Christ fill your hearts to overflowing this Christmas! May you respond to His love for you with gratitude and adoration. Merry Christmas!

PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING

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Peace. What is it and how do we receive this beautiful anecdote which brings silence and a blanket of calm that both forces chaos to halt and cease its bombardment of our emotions and senses.

In a letter dated August 16, 1945 written by a young newlywed, a bride wrote to her husband–”Well, at last there is peace. That sounds so wonderful. Tuesday night I was sitting on the porch when it came over the radio. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh”.

On the ring of the advent wreath, another candle waits to be lit, becoming a companion to “hope”.  This candle represents more than one kind of peace. With its flame burning, dancing in front of longing eyes, it emits promises of inner peace for us when life is overwhelming. A second promise calls us to know we can live in “peace with others”. Embodied in the Hebrew greeting “Shalom” is the very essence of peace “knowing that this is what is meant to be” and illustrates that God’s peace is a “slice of heaven”.

Therefore, what is “peace”? It’s more than a feeling. This much sought after feeling of hope and security is actually embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah, an 8th century prophet was gifted by God to foretell his people some of the most beautiful words I’ve read or sung…”For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9: 6) 

700 years after Isaiah’s prophecy, the birth of the Christ child is recorded in the four gospels of our New Testament. Luke is my favorite author who recounted Christ’s miraculous birth and the people who were chosen to receive news of His arrival first–lowly shepherds tending their flocks in the dark of night. Utterly surprised by a multitude of angels singing– who broke into an ordinary night– their song is recorded for us in Luke 2: 14…”Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Our young bride continues in her letter…”People got guns out, old cans, anything to make some noise. People went wild with excitement. Ed and I got in the car and went downtown. Traffic was awful…papers were all torn up. Flags were out…later that evening Evie, Gloria and I went back downtown around 8:30. You could hear horns for blocks away.”

At the appointed time God sent His son Jesus to be born as a child, fulfilling not only His birth, but to assume every name in heaven granted to Him with proper authority. I can’t imagine the beautiful chaos in heaven as angels worshiped and celebrated His birth. In contrast, all of hell broke loose, too, as the adversary–God’s prime enemy–Satan, was faced with a reality shining off the face of an infant who would bring an end to evil schemes and demonic strongholds in the adversary’s  constant striving to steal, kill and destroy all that God created and loves.

“I guess everyone is looking for the day when all the boys come home…well, darling, I’m glad I don’t have to say ‘I wish’ anymore.’

A common living room radio announced the news tired nations were longing to hear. World War II was over. A young bride, anxious to be reunited with her husband, rejoiced between tears and laughter. My dad was coming home soon…

Heavenly angels were God’s messengers delivering divine news to ordinary shepherds. Years of waiting for a promised messiah were over. Although these men and their Jewish nation did not or would not fully comprehend the events coming in the next 33 years of Jesus’ life and ministry, one thing remained. A peace that surpassed any other form known to them had arrived … .this kind of peace, set in motion 2,000 years ago is still a force to be reckoned with in a world that needing to be reconciled to the Prince of Peace.

TRUE HOPE

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The day will come, says the LORD, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. “In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33: 14-16)

It almost seems impossible that the year 2024 is drawing to an end. Thanksgiving has come and gone, decorations for Christmas have been stocked in stores for weeks already, and each time I’m driving on a dark evening more and more homes are displaying festive decor for this beautiful holiday. I love seeing the variety of decorations that folks choose to decorate houses, porches, yards, trees and bushes–it seems anything is fair game when it comes to lights, wreaths, figurines, etc. And, it seems that with the passing of each year there’s a larger variety of decor to choose from made available in all our major stores. At least it seems that way to me when I reflect on memories from past Christmas seasons.

Ours was a home that dad didn’t deck out with lights. I think he may have done so one year and wasn’t satisfied with too simple of a look. The Christmas tree we put up–usually three weeks before the big day–was always real and for many years we went to a local farm as a family to cut one which was to our liking. Trudging through the snow with my parents and two older brothers was great fun as we squabbled over “getting just the ‘right’ tree”. Hanging the lights and bulbs was a family affair..dad took care of the lights…us kids and mom hung the collection of bulbs, finished off with tinsel and candy canes carefully tucked in the branches.

Mom’s other Christmas decorations were carefully placed on the fireplace mantle and tables. The year dad remodeled the kitchen gave us room to hang garland and bulbs on a shelf  which ran the length of one wall, and even small trees were tucked in corners on tiny shelves he had built at the end of the soffit. My parents are gone now. Long gone are those days of decorating my family home. The tiny trees that used to adorn those tiny shelves in mom’s kitchen now sit in my curio cabinet as a reminder of childhood days. 

When I was in elementary school, we kids made Christmas advent chains. Using construction paper in red and green, we glued strips formed into circles, making a chain of 25 in all. Each day we were instructed to tear off one circle which helped us “count down” the arrival of Christmas…gifts under the tree…time off school….family dinners…ice skating at our neighborhood rink as well as sledding down hills…we found many ways to take advantage of snow that fell during winter!

One of my favorite aspects of the Advent Season is the wreath and candles for lighting during the four Sundays leading to Christmas Day.Years ago my dad crafted a beautiful advent wreath stand for my home church. Several years ago the congregation closed its doors which had been open for over 150 years. I’ve often wondered if the stand is in a closet somewhere, no longer an active item in Christian celebration.

 Each candle has its meaning. This week is the first Sunday in advent– “Hope”. I truly believe it’s an understatement that everyone craves “hope”, especially now in a world where two wars make headlines every day. Changes taking place in our own country are provoking a variety of emotions and opinions, even in our own community.

The Christ child’s anticipated arrival certainly influenced a 2,000 old culture. The Jews of that time, living under Roman rule and oppression, were looking for a king. Upon the arrival of the Christ child and ultimately in his adult ministry, many Jews continued to place trust and hope that “this” messiah was the one to overthrow the Roman government and release them into new freedom. Their “hopes” were greatly misguided and sadly, today, as many people continue to do so–trust and hope is being deferred to people and institutions rather than God.

God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, declaring “to fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah”. 

His good promise HAS been delivered and His name is Jesus Christ, the One to be celebrated at Christmas.

I’m excited for the beginning of Advent because of the holy day it ushers in during cold wintry days of December. I’m looking forward to the lighting of the Advent candles during worship each Sunday. As I drive around town and outside our community in the coming weeks, I look forward to beautiful displays…my prayer, however, is that in the midst of reindeer, snowmen, Santas, and angels–all those lovely holiday items–is the inclusion of nativity scenes with “a babe lying in a manger”.

Afterall, Christ is the reason we have Christmas as a worldwide celebration. His birth was prophesied hundreds of years before His appearance. Upon His arrival the world was changed forever, continuing with each passing year, and now believers wait for fulfilment of His return–the “second coming”.

In the meantime, in the waiting,  we light this week’s candle of “hope”. As Christians we are encouraged about 129 times in the New Testament to have “hope”. I think God knew we would need this beautiful emotion to embrace, especially when life gets hard. The disciple John ended his writing in chapter 16 with these words from Jesus–”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.

As your family embraces the Christmas season, looking for traditions to continue or maybe begin–may you feel encouraged and drawn to join a body of believers to be in community. Together, we can wait with excitement and deep love as Christ is celebrated in the midst of beautiful decorations–but more importantly–empty or hurting hearts ready to be filled with true “hope”!