Simple Advent

On Sunday we began our readings for Advent. I've never had a proper Advent wreath and this year I wanted something simple but elegant for the dining table, as we leave it there all December.

Four little galvanized buckets and four cream candles ...

Four pieces of string and four sprigs of rosemary.

I found some Advent readings here and simplified it for us into just 2-3 readings for each Sunday, and printed them out in a little booklet to keep on the table.

After dinner we lit the first candle and read from Isaiah 9 and 11, and Luke 1.

I love reading the prophecies of Isaiah, written some 700 years before Christ, that point to the Messiah, Jesus, and are so exact in their descriptions of what Christ has done:

For to 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.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.

Isaiah 9: 6-7

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
³ and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 11: 1-3

The more I learn about the Bible, the more this blows me away.

And then to read in Luke the prophecies to Zechariah about the birth of his son, John the Baptist, the fulfilment of which were seen just a short time later ... an amazing time in history.

The girls enjoyed reading their bibles by candlelight and we are looking forward to next Sunday night.

If you would like to have a copy of our Advent readings please email me and I'll send it to you.