Advent is Upon Us

Advent again is almost upon us, normally the season of Christmas starts about an hour after the thanksgiving turkey has been devoured.   Actually it seems like they were putting up the Christmas decorations even before Halloween.    This year I have a plan - a plan to look forward as I reflect back upon Christ's Birth.  Advent can be really special if we seek to make it special.   I'm not going to focus on wants, but what we've already been given, and use that for His glory.   As I put this plan together, I've also included links to videos of performances of the Messiah, the best music focusing on the person of Jesus Christ.  Written by George Frederic Handel, this oratorio was first performed as a benefit to support a hospital in Ireland.  By playing small sections of this I hope to inoculate a younger generation to the enjoyment of great music.  Each video I picked is different, from different places in the world, and different styles to see the global impact that G.F. Handel made. 

So please follow along with our family as we prepare for Advent.

Instructions for Advent Family Study:

1) This is a daily event that would happen before or after a meal, it will take roughly 20 minutes, which includes prayer, scripture reading, hymn singing, discussion, and watching a video (Messiah).

2) The Advent candles are a set of 3 purple candles, one rose, and one white colored candles, that are in a wreath or centerpiece to the table.   Candles are progressively lit, week after week.  Check out Google Shopping 

3) Plan ahead,  make sure you have the hymn printed out and maybe download the midi file or an actual recording.  have your computer or MP3 player ready so everything goes smoothly.

4) Make sure everyone is prepared for what will happen, delegate responsibilities to the children and adults:  light the candle, read, lead the hymn, or pray.

5) This is a form of liturgy, a way to organize your study and focus on the scripture,  don't limit yourself to doing just the framework,  I'm looking for ideas to make these lessons come to life for my family.   Maybe it might be a craft project, or a new song, or an illustration.

6) Depending on your children's age and temperament, adjust.

7) Most of all: Be consistent!

Click here for a PDF File of the Plan
or see below

Week	Candle	Date	Reading	Topic of Discussion	Hymn	Messiah
First Week	1	Thursday November 28, 2013	Genesis 3:1-22	Sin Entered the world, But a promise is made	Of the Father's love begotten	Sinfony (Overture)
		Friday November 29, 2013	Isaiah 40:1-5	Comfort to the weary	Comfort, comfort now my people	Comfort Ye My People \ Every Valley shall be exalted
		Saturday  November 30, 2013	Isaiah 52:7-10	Good News is beautiful	How beauteous are their feet	How beautiful are the feet of Him
		Sunday December 01, 2013	Isaiah 40:9-11	We are sheep, we need a Shepherd	The Lord is my Shepherd	He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd
		Monday December 02, 2013	Genesis 15:1-6	Abraham God is talking to you	Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart	Thus saith the Lord \ But who may abide
		Tuesday  December 03, 2013	Deut. 18:15-19	Prophets speak truth	On Jordan's bank the Baptist's Cry	O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
		Wednesday December 04, 2013	Isaiah 9:2-5	The World needs to hear the Gospel	I Love to tell the story of unseen things above	For behold, darkness shall cover the earth / The people that walked in darkness	And he shall purify
Second Week	1 & 2	Thursday December 05, 2013	Malachi 3:1-6	Sin must be dealt with	Angels, from the realms of glory	For unto us a Child is born	And the glory, the glory of the Lord
		Friday December 06, 2013	Isaiah 9:6-7	Jesus is the Redemption of the world	What child is this, who, laid to rest	Surely, He hath borne our grieves	Pifa (Pastorale)
		Saturday December 07, 2013	Ps. 89:1-4	From David's Line	O come, all ye faithful (Adeste fideles) (Peuple fidèle)	There were shepherds abiding in the field / And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them / And suddenly there was with the angel	Glory to God
		Sunday December 08, 2013	Is. 11:1-10	Jesse - The Branch still Grows	Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming	Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion	Then shall the eyes of the blind open'd
		Monday December 09, 2013	Zech. 6:12-13	Jesus is the Branch	Come, thou Fount of every blessing	He shall feed His flock like a shepherd	My yoke is easy, and my burthen is light
		Tuesday December 10, 2013	Mic. 5:2-4	Bethlehem	O little town of Bethlehem	Behold the lamb of God	He was despised
		Wednesday December 11, 2013	John 1:1-8	Jesus is the Word	Joy to the world! the Lord is come	All we like sheep	All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn
Third Week	1, 2, & 3	Thursday December 12, 2013	John 1:9-18	Jesus is the Light	It came upon the midnight clear	He trusted in God, that He would deliver Him
		Friday December 13, 2013	Mark 1:1-3	Jesus is the Way	Les anges dans nos campagnes (Angels we have heard on high)	Thy rebuke hath broken His heart / Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
		Saturday December 14, 2013	Luke 1:5-13	Zacharias	In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan	He was cut off out of the land of the living / But Thou didst not leave his soul in hell
		Sunday December 15, 2013	Luke 1:14-17	Zacharias Can't Talk	Gloria, gloria, in exclesis Deo!	Lift up your heads	Unto which of the angels said he at all time
		Monday December 16, 2013	Luke 1:18-25	Zacharias Marvells	While shepherds watched their flocks by night	Let all the angels of God worship Him
		Tuesday December 17, 2013	Luke 1:26-35	Gabriel sent to Mary	Hark! the herald angels sing	Thou art gone up on high
		Wednesday December 18, 2013	Luke 1:39-45	Mary is Chosen	Gentle Mary laid her child	The Lord gave the word
Fourth Week	1,2,3 & 4	Thursday December 19, 2013	Luke 1:46-56	Mary's Magnificat	Away in a manger, no crib for a bed	He that dwelleth in heaven \ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron \ Hallelujah
		Friday December 20, 2013	Luke 1:57-66	His name shall be called John	To us a child, of royal birth	Their sound is gone out into all lands
		Saturday December 21, 2013	Luke 1:67-80	John the Baptists	Good Christian men, rejoice	Why do the nations so furiously rage together
		Sunday December 22, 2013	Matthew 1:18-25	His Name is Jesus	Long time ago in Bethlehem	Let us break their bonds asunder	I know that my Redeemer liveth
		Monday December 23, 2013	Luke 2:1-20	Shepherds Worship	The first Noel, the angel did say	Since by man came death / by man came also the resurrection	Behold, I tell you a mystery / The trumpet shall sound
		Tuesday December 24, 2013	Matthew 2:1-2	Wise men Seek Him	Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (Silent night, Holy night) (Ô nuit de foi! Sainte nuit!)	Then shall be brought to pass / O death, where is thy sting?	But thanks be to God
	All	Wednesday December 25, 2013	Luke 2:21-35	Simeon Sings	I heard the bells on Christmas Day / Nuc Dimittis	If God be for us	Worthy is the Lamb

I pray that this Advent will be a very Christ focused time of the year for all of us.   May we desire more of Him in our every day lives.