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From Pastor Matt:


Advent week 2 is this Sunday!

Below you will find some general information about Advent, some resources for celebrating Advent in your home this year, the scriptures we'll read and study in Church this week, last week's sermon, and a few updates or upcoming events.

NOTE: This week, after church, we will celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday with a traditional meal after church. Merry is making the Turkey, others have signed up for major dishes - there should be plenty of food. Feel free to bring a dish to share as we enjoy one another and some great food.

May the grace, mercy, and peace of God be with you all,
 
Matt
 
Advent
    
Advent is about anticipation and waiting. But What Are We Waiting For? In his book by that title, liturgical scholar William Peterson answers, "The full manifestation of the Reign of God / Kingdom of Christ."

In other words, Advent is about Jesus as the true King of all, about what that kingdom will look like, what it has looked like when we have glimpsed it, and what we can do to partner with God in God's mission to restore creation. 
 




The Seven Weeks of Advent
    
This year we will, again, celebrate seven weeks of Advent. Each day will have a theme. In place of the usual four named Sundays (Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love), the seven themes and names of these weeks come from ancient prayers that invoke various Divine names of Christ (the "O Antiphons"). Those ancient prayers were translated into English and set to verse and music. We now know them as the great song "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Here, then, are the seven weeks and their corresponding theme:

Week 1, November 11, Wisdom
Week 2, November 18, Adoni - Lord
Week 3, November 25, Ruler of Nations (Christ the King Sunday)
Week 4, December 2, Root of Jesse
Week 5, December 9, Key of David
Week 6, December 16, Morning Star - Dayspring
Week 7, December 23, Emmanuel - God With Us 

Again each of these themes are divine titles or names of Christ. They are rich with meaning and will give us a great deal to think about as we worship throughout the season.

 
Week 2 - Adoni (Lord)    

Saying the Hebrew word "Adoni" (which translates into Lord in English) is a way to say God's very name without actually saying The Name. By calling Jesus, "Adoni," we recognize that our story, as Christians, is simply an extension of the story of Israel's God (as we spent weeks discussing in our Telling the Old Testament Story sermon series over the summer). 

The verse from "O Come O Come" we will sing this week:

O come, Ad-o-ni, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.


This is the prayer (collect) we will pray just before we begin reading scriptures:

O Lord our God, you gave your law that righteousness might abound: Put it into our hearts to love justice for others as much as we desire it for ourselves, that, as we know you to be our judge, so we may welcome your reign as it is manifested through Jesus Christ our savior; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.                                                                      

These are the scriptures we will read aloud in worship:
Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-25
Mark 13:1-8
Home Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy
 
Many people light an advent wreath at home to celebrate the season. This is often done in the evening just before the evening meal and can be done every day of week. Here is a liturgy that can be used. [NOTE: this is taken from this PDF with only slight modifications. All seven prayers can be found in that PDF. I will also have some of these printed and available at church this week. Also, the first two line are translations of the original "O Antiphon" for each week before they were turned into verses for "O Come O Come."]

One: O Adonai and Israel’s God, your flame brought Moses to his knees.
Many: Your mountain brought forth Law and Life: Come and redeem us!

The youngest member of the family who is able or the newest person in the household then lights the candle or candles appropriate to the week(s) of the season. When this is accomplished all recite the Phos Hilaron (an ancient hymn):

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.


One: O Lord our God, you gave your law that righteousness might abound: Put it into our hearts to love justice for others as much as we desire it for ourselves, that, as we know you to be our judge, so we may welcome your reign as it is manifested through Jesus Christ our savior; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

The service may conclude with a table grace followed by the evening meal or with the following doxology. If a table grace is used, then this doxology may be reserved until the end of the meal.
One: Let us bless the Lord. 
Many: Thanks be to God.

Before the concluding doxology, it may also be appropriate to recite "The Magnificat," The Song of Mary, from Luke 1:46-55. This song of Mary contains many important Advent themes - it speaks of the true Rule of God:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
   my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for you, Lord, have looked with favor 
   on your lowly servant.
      From this day 
         all generations will call me blessed:
      you, the Almighty, have done great things for me
         and holy is your name.
      You have mercy on those who fear you
         from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm
   and scattered the proud in their conceit,
casting down the mighty from their thrones
   and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things
   and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the aid of your servant Israel,
to remember the promise of mercy,
   the promise made to our forebears,
   to Abraham and his children for ever. 
Icons
 
I have found an icon that goes along with the theme of each week. Here is the one for week 2 - Adoni (Lord). 



Find this icon and what the artist wrote about it here: https://www.trinitystores.com/artwork/jesus-christ-pantocrator

NEWS, UPDATES, and UPCOMING EVENTS




Wednesday Night Schedule for the next several weeks:

November 21, No Wednesday night - Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28, Mark or Corey Bible Study
December 5, Men's and women's Bible studies

Saturday, Nov. 17
Food Pantry and Clothes Closet

Sunday, November 18
Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck
We will enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with our church family on Sunday, November 18 after worship. Merry is preparing Turkey. Please bring a favorite holiday side dish or dessert to enjoy together.

 

The Kingdom of God: Here, Available, Calling - Advent 1 of 7
Join us for worship - Sunday mornings at 10:30 
Join us for worship - Sunday mornings at 10:30 
2340 N. Hayden Rd.
480-949-9494
Online giving is available at cash.me/$snaz
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Join us for worship - Sunday mornings at 10:30 
2340 N. Hayden Rd.
480-949-9494
Online giving is available at cash.me/$snaz
Share
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Copyright © 2018 Scottsdale First Church of the Nazarene, All rights reserved.


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