Advent 3 (Hope), 4 (Love) and CHRISTMAS!
Merry Christmas, everyone! This will be the last Worship Companion post until after the Christmas season, so in it you’ll find scriptures and questions for the rest of advent. In week 3, this Sunday, we’ll be exploring “Hope,” and in the final week of advent (Sunday the 22nd) we’ll be hearing a message on “Love.” Over the Christmas season we’ll be reflecting on the story of Jesus’ humble birth and how it changes our stories.
The Annunciation to the Shepherds, Les Tres Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Folio 48r, Year: 1410
This picture above is taken from an illuminated (illustrated) manuscript of the christmas story. It includes this description by the Llbrary that posted it:
This beautiful miniature painting combines so many iconographical aspects, that the viewer can easily follow the connection from the very conception of Christ to his final days in Jerusalem. In the left center of the painting, a fountain of pink marble appears. This rocky font may be a representation of the "Fountain of the Virgin," the only water spring source in the countryside near Jerusalem. Its proximity made it a popular place for drawing water and watering sheep and goats. The artist conflates the countryside of Nazareth, six miles from Jerusalem, with the location of this spring. Jerusalem, the holy city, is therefore represented in the distance. According to tradition, Gabriel announced to Mary her carrying of the Christ child at this spring, hence the name, "Fountain of the Virgin."
Anchor Texts:
Psalm 33 NIV - Sing joyfully to the LORD (Hope)
John 15:9-17 NIV - “As the Father has loved me… (Love)
Luke 2:8-20 NIV - The Christmas Story (Christmas)
Questions to Ponder:
Hope
Psalm 33 begins with “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous.” Who are the righteous? If none of us are righteous, who can sing?
Psalm 33 ends in v. 22 with the idea of hope - why do we need to “hope” in God”? Is hope different than being sure somethign will happen?
What hopes do you have? What do you trust in to get to those hopes? Look at 33:16-17, what are we "tempted” to trust in to acheive our hopes?
We have hopes for Jesus’ second coming - what do you “hope for” with regard to the second coming?
Read Matthew 25:1-13 NIV, what makes it hard to have patience and hope for Jesus’ second coming - how does this parable of Jesus address our impatience?
Love
In reading John 15:9-17 NIV, what can we learn about Jesus and the Father and how closely they are connected?
Why does it say that Jesus keeps the Father’s commands? Don’t they have the same will?
In verse 15 Jesus calls his disciples friends - what does this tell us about our personal relationship with Jesus?
In v. 16 Jesus says we have been chosen to bear fruit - what does this mean? What kind of “fruit”?
How would you rate yourself in your obedience to the command “Love one another”? How ould you rate our local church? How would you rate our love for Christians outside our church/demoniation?
What is a way you can show love to someone this Christmas that you wouldn’t normally?
Christmas:
Why do you think the shepherds first reaction to the angels is fear? What scares us about the spiritual realm invading the earthly realm?
Why is it significant that Jesus is born in the “City of David?”
Of all the people God could have sent angels to, why the shepherds?
In what ways does this episode highlight Jesus’ humanity? In what ways does it highlight his divinity?
In V. 11 it says “to you” - what does this mean? Obviously, Jesus was born to Mary, but what does it meant htat he is born to the shepherds, is he born “to us,” too?
The Theme in Song:
Looking for some great christmas music to enjoy while you’re at home or work this Christmas season? Here’s a playlist to put on! Filling your home with the music of hymns and carols can be a wonderful way to point your heart and mind toward Jesus amidst the busyness of the season.
Some More Christmas Art:
For any of you who can weave, you’ll appreciate the amazing detail which is just part of the tapistry mad by this a Swiss Dominican nun.
Detail from a medieval tapestry made by a Swiss Dominican nun, who is pictured here beside the crib
Below is a scene from one of my favourite church art projects in recent history, the Jesus Mafa project form Cameroon that sought to put all the key biblical stories into art that would reasonate with the people in Cameroon.
Jesus MAFA, The Birth of the Shepherds - 1973
Finally, if any of you are going somewhere warm this Christmas break, see if you can match this sand sculpture! Every year the Canary Islands host a sand sculpture competition. This one is called “No Room at the Inn” and it is incredible! No paint or internal structural aids were used.
