Develop a Discipleship System
Advent Wreath Meditations - 2013 (Garland): First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent: December 1, 2013
This set of brief meditations with Scriptures, reflections, and liturgies may be used in lighting the candles of the Advent wreath in worship at church or home. Each meditation uses one of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for the day. The readings are divided into sections that can be assigned to various persons participating, including the children. A candle lighting liturgy is also provided. Suggested hymns from both The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing are provided, as an option, to conclude each meditation. A hymn written by the author for the First Sunday in Advent, Year A is also provided. Permission is granted to download, copy, adapt, edit, and reprint for home or local church worship with the inclusion of the copyright citation on each copy.
Scripture - Isaiah 2:2-5 (NRSV)
"In the 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 plowshares, 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!"
Reflection
The Season of Advent is an invitation to reflect on faithful vision and what it means to live in expectation of its fulfillment.
Consider what the prophet Isaiah sees:
. . . the Lord's house established on the highest of the mountains
. . . people seeking instruction and the Word of the Lord
. . . a righteous Lord who will bring peace
. . . an invitation to walk in the light of the Lord
How then do we live as those who believe that the promises of God will be fulfilled?
. . . as those who are faithfully present in the house of the Lord?
. . . as those who are willing to be instructed in the Word of the Lord?
. . . as those who would seek the peace that the Lord brings?
. . . as those who would daily walk in the light of the Lord?
If we are willing to trust in a faithful vision and are willing to live in the expectation that it will be fulfilled, then our discipleship will prepare us for the coming of Immanuel.
Candle Lighting Liturgy
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.
We will go up to the mountain of the Lord; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.
The one who is coming will bring a new order to life, and teach us the way of peace.
Awaken us, O Lord, as your salvation draws near.
We light this candle, trusting that Immanuel will surely come.
(Here light the first Advent candle.)
In this light we will await the coming of the Lord.
Music
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," Stanza 7, The United Methodist Hymnal, 211
"The King of Glory Comes," The Faith We Sing, 2091,
"Come to the Light of Hope" by F. Richard Garland
Copyright © 2013 F. Richard Garland. Published by The United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203. Telephone (877)899-2780, ext 7073. Worship website http://www.umcworship.org.
Permission is granted to download, adapt, edit, copy, and use in local church or home worship with the inclusion of this entire copyright citation on each copy. It may not be sold, republished, used for profit, or placed on a website.
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