Looking Forward to Jesus:

Advent Reflections

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Week 1: Hope (Nov 29 – Dec 5)

This is the New Year for Christians. The traditional theme for this week is hope. We begin with just the light of one candle, a glimmer of hope to begin our journey towards Christmas. Christians have hope that God will continue to take care of the world.

Read the Bible

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

Luke 1:26b-32 (NIVUK)

Light the Wreath Light the 1st purple candle, saying:We light this candle holding fast to the hope of God’s care for us.

ReflectionSometimes when everything is difficult it’s hard to hold on to hope. In the years leading up to Jesus’ birth, the Israelite nation was deeply oppressed by the Roman occupation. The Israelite king was a dangerous and power-hungry man, who was not watching out for the interests of his people. God had not spoken through the prophets in a very long time, and God’s people felt abandoned and hopeless. They longed for a

Messiah who would defeat their enemies and free them from oppression.

In the midst of this, a young, unmarried girl from a poor family suddenly sees an angel. This would have been as startling to her as it would be to us today! The angel gives her an astonishing promise that God has not forgotten them and that the Messiah is coming, but in a totally unexpected way.

Ponder• What are the things you most hope for personally? • What are your hopes on a larger scale (family, country, world)? • Are there areas in life where you have given up hope? • Where do you sense God meeting you in your hopes, and in

places you may have given up hope? • The hope of all the world came in a completely unexpected

way and at a time when everything seemed bleak. As you reflect on this passage, ponder how the fulfillment of the Israelites’ hopes was so much greater than their expectations. How might this encourage you in your own hopes and fears?

For further reflection: Read Psalm 130 and consider how Luke 1:26b-32 (NIVUK) relates to this Psalm.

Family IdeasThe angel surprised Mary! She didn’t know what to expect. What is the best surprise you ever had? Was it something you were hoping for? Talk about what it means to have hope. Share your hopes with each other.

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Closing PrayerLord, we wait for you in eager expectation, and in your son Jesus we put our hope. For you are love, and in you we find our redemption. Amen.

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Week 2: Peace (Dec 6 – Dec 12)

The traditional theme for this week is peace. Through the prophet Isaiah we know Jesus as the “Prince of Peace”. Through Jesus, God gives us peace so we can share it with the world.

Read the Bible

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 Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 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 for ever

Isaiah 9:6-7a (NIVUK)

Light the Wreath Light the 1st & 2nd purple candles, saying: We light these candles holding fast to the peace that comes with knowing Jesus.

ReflectionThe prophet Isaiah was writing hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, and many of his most beautiful passages give us insight into Jesus’ character and mission. In this passage, Isaiah tells us that the infant Jesus, lying in the manger, is also our Prince of Peace who will reign forever. We rejoice not just

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because Jesus is born, but because this is the beginning of his kingdom of justice, joy, and peace.

Peace is something we long for in our broken, hurting world – a peace that extends not only across borders and relationships, but within our own hearts. We long for ‘shalom’, the deeper peace of completely whole relationships with creation, with other people, with ourselves, and with God.

This is the peace that Jesus has begun through his work on the cross: completely restored relationships. It is a peace that will not be fully realised until Jesus comes again, but we have the promise of its fulfillment with the Holy Spirit living in us.

Ponder• Where do you long for peace in your relationships with

creation, other people, yourself, and God?• Have you seen God’s Spirit working in you to bring peace in

any of these areas? • If not, ask Jesus to make himself known to you as the Prince

of Peace. • If you have seen God’s peace growing in you, take some time

to give thanks.

For further reflection: Read Psalm 131 and consider how Jesus becoming a baby opens the way for us to have a trusting, peaceful relationship with God, like a child with its mother.

Family IdeasGather in a circle and share God’s peace by exchanging hugs and words of peace. Choose an idea of one way to bring peace into your family, and greater peace with creation. Check back in later to see how you did.

Closing PrayerLord, thank you for coming to us as the Prince of Peace. We ask that you bring peace in our world, peace in our relationships, and peace in our hearts. Amen.

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Week 3: Joy (Dec 13 – Dec 19)

The traditional theme for this week is joy. In the midst of the celebrations of the year it is good to pause and appreciate a deeper joy that comes from God.

Read the Bible

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’

Luke 1:39-45 (NIVUK)

Light the Wreath Light the 1st, 2nd & 3rd purple candles, saying: We light these candles holding fast to the joy that Jesus places in our hearts.

ReflectionHave you ever had a piece of good news that was so unexpected a shock of joy went through your entire body?

When Mary found out she was pregnant with Jesus, she went to see her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant too. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy when Mary entered the room, and before Mary had even said a word, Elizabeth was praising God! Somehow the baby inside her knew that the presence of the Lord was in that room with them and couldn’t help but jump for joy.

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For both Elizabeth and her unborn baby John, joy came with recognising that they were in the presence of God. And this is exactly what someday we will feel too, when we come into the presence of the living God: a delight and a joy that goes beyond bounds. We get a taste of it sometimes when we experience God’s presence with us now – enough to whet our appetites!

Ponder• Have you ever experienced a delight and a joy that comes

from being in the presence of someone you love? • Realising you are in the presence of God can bring with it

an incredible sense of awe and delight and joy. Have you ever experienced this? If so, where?

• The Apostle Paul says now we see through a glass, dimly, but someday we will see face to face (1 Cor 12:13). How amazing will our joy be on that day!

For further reflection: Read Psalm 16 and reflect on the joy that awaits us, when we are someday fully in the presence of God.

Family IdeasHave each family member share something that brings them joy. Choose one or all of these ideas and share your joy together. If you prefer, dance together sharing joyful music and celebrating the joy of the Lord!

Closing PrayerLord, you fill us with joy in your presence. Thank you for sending your Son so that we might know you better and rejoice in your love.

Week 4: Love (Dec 20 – Dec 24)

The traditional theme for this week is love. The Bible says that God is love, and that love drives away fear. As we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus let us live in his love and share his love to others that we meet.

Read the Bible

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 (NIVUK)

Light the Wreath Light all the purple candles, saying: We light these candles holding fast to the love that Jesus has for us, and that we can share with others.

ReflectionIn this Bible passage we meet one of two groups of witnesses to the birth of Jesus. The wise men, or ‘magi’, were an educated class of people from Persia who studied the stars to discern the times. They were foreigners who did not know the God of the Jews. God chose these wealthy foreigners as witnesses to the birth of his Son. They were led by a star on a long journey toward Jesus.

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When they reached Jesus, the wise men bowed down and worshipped him. Worship is always an act of love. In other words, these foreigners who knew nothing about the promised Messiah nonetheless saw Jesus’ face, and knelt down in love for him.

Ponder• Is worship being an act of love a new idea for you?• How does this shape your thinking about what happens in

a ‘worship service’ at church?• How else do you worship God in your life? • The story of the wise men was included in Matthew’s

Gospel to show that Jesus’ birth is good news for everyone, no matter what your background. Take some time to think about how people in different churches or cultures worship God and give thanks for their way of loving God that may be different from yours.

For further reflection: Read Psalm 138 and think about how this Psalm illustrates the story of the magi and the love shining back and forth between God and all of God’s people, rich and poor.

Family IdeasTalk in your family about how the Magi followed a bright star. Go outside on a starry night and imagine beginning a long journey to follow one star. Give thanks that Jesus’ love is for all people!

Closing PrayerLord, through the Magi you help us see that the good news of Jesus is for everyone. Thank you for your loving care that extends to all nations and all people. Amen.

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Christmas: Jesus is Born!

We celebrate the amazing news that God came to us in the form of a baby, to begin the process of winning the world back to himself.

Read the Bible

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:8-18 (NIVUK)

Light the Wreath Light all the candles, including the Christ-candle, saying:We light these candles giving thanks for our Saviour who has been born for us and for all people.

ReflectionRemember the rich, educated wise men who were chosen as witnesses to the birth of Jesus? The other group of witnesses were the shepherds. These men in the field that night were probably very simple, poor, and uneducated. They weren’t always treated very well by others. They weren’t even considered reliable enough to testify in court! When God chose these two very different groups of witnesses to the birth of his Son, he was showing us what sort of king Jesus would be: one who would welcome and love everyone, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, local or foreign.

The Holy Spirit made sure that both the stories of the shepherds and the wise men were in the Bible, so that we would know from the beginning that Jesus’ love is not just for one group or class of people. Today we rejoice and give thanks because Jesus our Saviour has been born, and this is good news for all people, everywhere!

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Ponder• How have you experienced Jesus as good news in your life? • Have you sometimes wondered why different writers in

the Bible choose to tell different stories? Reflect on how people may find hope in the very different witnesses to Jesus’ birth.

For further reflection: Read Psalm 146 and reflect on how Jesus fulfilled the hopes of the nations.

Family IdeasWith a pretend microphone take turns interviewing each family member as a ‘witness’ the birth of Jesus. What did they see, and what can they share about this very special baby? Close with a ‘Special Report’ on the Good News of the birth of Jesus.

Closing PrayerLord, we give you thanks and praise for the birth of Jesus! Help us to treasure the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus offers to the world. Amen.