Advent Traditions

[Jersey Girl]

Hey guys,

You might recall that earlier this year I observed Lent for the first time ever in my life. I grew up with Catholic friends so I knew folks had to sacrifice something with many or most giving up special foods like chocolate and that sort of thing. So I gave up Target.

Part sacrifice. Part boycott.

Now I'm doing a Bible Study that has teachings for every day (they aren't long) leading up to Christmas. I knew virtually nothing about Advent except for seeing photos of Advent calendars and the circle candle wreath but I had no idea what the candles represented until today. I'm going to style up my own wreath using LED candles that I have.

I made a special study basket. Long story. I'm working my way up to creating a separate Bible study space. For now it's in a basket with vintage ribbon to make it special. It holds the study guide, one of my childhood Bibles, eye glasses, and pen/sticky notes. There may or may not be Scottish shortbread involved.

Anyway...the study guide goes through the development of Advent practices over centuries and what I'm getting is that groups/congregations/families have their own way just like we all have our own way of celebrating Christmas, etc. And of course, there's folks who simply opt out of such things.

So I have a question or two for you all. Don't count them.

If you or your family ever observed Advent, what was your practice? Did you hold your observances once a week on Sundays only? If not, was it every day or what was it? Were there specific scripture readings? Special foods? Music? Singing? Are your memories of Advent special to you?

Feel free to share as much as you like or...not at all. I'm just interested in learning about the different practices that come together in different families, church groups and such as that.

Thanks!
Jersey Girl

[Whiskey]

No experiences with that stuff. But I like the experiment and adventure of it all. Have fun and enjoy.

[Chap]

In my case, my memories go back to dark Sunday evenings attending Evensong of the Church of England, when for the first time one heard the collect (a prayer said aloud by the priest on behalf of all the congregation) which runs:

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

You hear this prayer on the first Sunday of Advent, and every Sunday for the rest of Advent. It brings together the two 'comings' which give the season of Advent (from Latin 'advenio', I come) its name: the coming of Jesus to the world as a helpless infant at a particular time in the past, and his coming as the judge of the world at the end of time.

There is also the hymn 'Oh come, oh come Emmanuel' , sung at the start of Advent. 'Emmanuel' is a Hebrew name meaning 'God with us', used in a prophecy in the book of Isaiah, made to a particular king of Judah at a particular time, but in this hymn which refers to the story of ancient Israel as representing the whole human race it points to the coming of Jesus in the second sense of the collect above. Anyway, the impression made by the ancient melody of this hymn sung in an ancient church in the Advent gloom is a memory I recall very clearly.

Worth hearing, I think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnEggd0OKY

The words are:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Adonai, 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.

All that was quite an experience ...

[Jersey Girl]

No experiences with that stuff. But I like the experiment and adventure of it all. Have fun and enjoy.

Thanks, Whiskey! I think it's been of benefit to me so far. I've been doing daily Bible studies from this ministry for possibly 4-5 years now. Just finished up Ecclesiastes which was more relevant than I anticipated. This is the first and only year I've ever seen them offer a Christmas related study in December. Don't know why they didn't do it before now. It's a free app you can put on your phone or do it on the website. You don't need to purchase the study guide. I think I've gotten 3 study guides including this one.

I knew I wanted to kickstart my Bible study space so it all came together. This study is also to help us keep our mind on the birth of Christ instead of all the "things" we tend to do this time of year.

I'm aiming for Passover and Hanukkah next year. If I can't eat the food involved I'll just improvise.

[Jersey Girl]

In my case, my memories go back to dark Sunday evenings attending Evensong of the Church of England, when for the first time one heard the collect (a prayer said aloud by the priest on behalf of all the congregation) which runs:

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

You hear this prayer on the first Sunday of Advent, and every Sunday for the rest of Advent. It brings together the two 'comings' which give the season of Advent (from Latin 'advenio', I come) its name: the coming of Jesus to the world as a helpless infant at a particular time in the past, and his coming as the judge of the world at the end of time.

Thanks, Chap! Bringing the two comings together is exactly what this study does that I'm working on. I don't know why I never put that together before now. I guess that's a good indication that I can do with more guided study. I'm going to use the prayer you gave me!

There is also the hymn 'Oh come, oh come Emmanuel' , sung at the start of Advent. 'Emmanuel' is a Hebrew name meaning 'God with us', used in a prophecy in the book of Isaiah, made to a particular king of Judah at a particular time, but in this hymn which refers to the story of ancient Israel as representing the whole human race it points to the coming of Jesus in the second sense of the collect above. Anyway, the impression made by the ancient melody of this hymn sung in an ancient church in the Advent gloom is a memory I recall very clearly.

Worth hearing, I think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnEggd0OKY

The words are:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Adonai, 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.

All that was quite an experience ...

Yes, Sir! I'm well familiar with that hymn having sung in choir when I was young as well as all the Worship Services! I'll listen to the link and thanks again for your helpful reply!

Is there a special meaning in "Evensong"? And Chap are you familiar with the Prayer of Examen? I've been using that for a couple or three months now as a review of my day.

[Chap]

Is there a special meaning in "Evensong"? And Chap are you familiar with the Prayer of Examen?

"Evensong" is the common name for the Anglican service formally called 'Evening Prayer'. Despite the suggestion that there must be some singing (and there usually is) the service is perfectly properly conducted if it is simply said. It is a pretty old name, since (I quote from memory) there is a verse in Chaucer including the words "If Morwesong [=Morningsong] and Evensong accord" i.e. if what one says remains the same as time passes.

On the prayer you cite, which is I think part of Jesuit spirituality, these things are nowadays of purely academic interest to me because I no longer thing that there is any non-human personal being out there to whom prayers can be addressed. Still, that does not mean I have forgotten the cultural and aesthetic significance of what I did as a believer. After all, I am still a human being, and for me religion is nowadays just some things that some human beings choose to do.

[Whiskey]

No experiences with that stuff. But I like the experiment and adventure of it all. Have fun and enjoy.

Thanks, Whiskey! I think it's been of benefit to me so far. I've been doing daily Bible studies from this ministry for possibly 4-5 years now. Just finished up Ecclesiastes which was more relevant than I anticipated. This is the first and only year I've ever seen them offer a Christmas related study in December. Don't know why they didn't do it before now. It's a free app you can put on your phone or do it on the website. You don't need to purchase the study guide. I think I've gotten 3 study guides including this one.

I knew I wanted to kickstart my Bible study space so it all came together. This study is also to help us keep our mind on the birth of Christ instead of all the "things" we tend to do this time of year.

I'm aiming for Passover and Hanukkah next year. If I can't eat the food involved I'll just improvise.

I passed a Bible Study sign recently. It was on a property that had Lamas in the front yard. Part of me thought that no matter the topic, these people would be interesting to spend an evening with. I hope you are doing with this with some fun and funny folks.

[Res Ipsa]

I grew up LDS, and celebrating Advent is not part of the LDS tradition. I game with some folks in Germany and hasn’t realized the significance of the season. One of them explained the significance, although he is not a believer. It was a good reminder that how I experience the world is not representative of anyone else’s experience.

Thanks for reminding me of that hymn, Chap. It is beautiful.

[Some Schmo]

I grew up LDS, and celebrating Advent is not part of the LDS tradition. I game with some folks in Germany and hasn’t realized the significance of the season. One of them explained the significance, although he is not a believer. It was a good reminder that how I experience the world is not representative of anyone else’s experience.

The most valuable thing about this thread for me is finding out that Advent is a wider tradition and not just a series of gimmicky (albeit fun) calendars.

Afterthought: Jersey Girl often self-deprecates her knowledge of things, but I can't count the number of times I've learned basic stuff from her. We all have our areas of experience and knowledge, which excludes all other areas. Opportunity cost, and all that.

Makes me wonder what the right balance of feeling good about what know with understanding the breadth of your own ignorance really is. I guess you can spend a good number of cycles contemplating both.

[Res Ipsa]

I grew up LDS, and celebrating Advent is not part of the LDS tradition. I game with some folks in Germany and hasn’t realized the significance of the season. One of them explained the significance, although he is not a believer. It was a good reminder that how I experience the world is not representative of anyone else’s experience.

The most valuable thing about this thread for me is finding out that Advent is a wider tradition and not just a series of gimmicky (albeit fun) calendars.

Afterthought: Jersey Girl often self-deprecates her knowledge of things, but I can't count the number of times I've learned basic stuff from her. We all have our areas of experience and knowledge, which excludes all other areas. Opportunity cost, and all that.

Makes me wonder what the right balance of feeling good about what know with understanding the breadth of your own ignorance really is. I guess you can spend a good number of cycles contemplating both.

Same. I have often benefited from Jersey Girl’s knowledge and experience. I think that learning how much I don’t know is invigorating — there’s always something new to dive into.