Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. I love Advent, but I don't always keep the season well. I like to view it as a time of waiting on God, of preparing my heart for him.
One of the things that the Advent scriptures do is to focus on Jesus is his many roles. So four years ago I wrote a prayer to use during the Advent season. I've posted it on the blog before, but that was nearly six months ago and many of you weren't stopping by back then. So here is the prayer again.
A few years ago, one of my priests introduced me to Anglican prayer beads, also called the Anglican rosary. Each set contains a cross and thirty-three beads, which symbolize the years of Jesus' life. There are five large beads and twenty-eight small beads, divided into four "weeks" of seven. Four of the large beads are used to separate the weeks. These are called cruciforms because they can be seen as standing for the four arms of the cross. The other large bead is next to the cross. It is called the invitatory.
Many prayers have been written for Anglican prayer beads. Shortly after I started using mine, I began to wish I had a prayer that would help me focus on everything that Jesus is to me. I had two different publications of prayers designed for Anglican beads, but none of the prayers satisfied my longing. So I wrote my own. I offer it to anyone who would like to use it, whether they own Anglican prayer beads or not.
The Cross
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen (Rev. 7:12)
The Invitatory
Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The Cruciforms
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,
bless God’s Holy Name. (Ps. 103:1)
The Weeks
(Pray each paired phrase on a separate bead)
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of God, Lead us to the Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Firstborn of all Creation, Create in us a clean heart.
Lord Jesus Christ, Holy One, Lead us into righteousness.
Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the World. Illumine our hearts.
Lord Jesus Christ, Righteous One, Make your people holy.
Lord Jesus Christ, Image of the Invisible God, Show us the Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Mystery of God, Give us the conviction of things not seen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, Have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus Christ, Man of Sorrows, Ease our suffering.
Lord Jesus Christ, Suffering Servant, Redeem us from sin.
Lord Jesus Christ, Incarnate God, Deliver us from temptation.
Lord Jesus Christ, Word of Life, Lead us into all truth.
Lord Jesus Christ, Bread of Life, Feed your people.
Lord Jesus Christ, Living Water, Deliver us from thirst.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Lead us on the right path.
Lord Jesus Christ, Chief Cornerstone, Build up your church.
Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Body, Guide your people.
Lord Jesus Christ, Author and Perfector of Faith, Help our unbelief.
Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd, Seek out the lost sheep.
Lord Jesus Christ, True Vine, Make your branches fruitful.
Lord Jesus Christ, Wonderful Counselor, Give us your wisdom.
Lord Jesus Christ, High Priest, Intercede for us.
Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, End conflict in the world.
Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Come into your kingdom.
Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, Be sovereign over all.
Lord Jesus Christ, Resurrection and Life, Raise us up on the last day.
Lord Jesus Christ, Alpha and Omega, Let us see your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of Man, Receive our praise.
Also, tomorrow we will put up our creche. The Christmas tree doesn't go up until next week, on the Saturday closest to St. Nicholas Day. (This year they happen to coincide.) I like to give the creche priority to remind me what the season is really about.
Because I'm working two writing jobs from now until January 20, my days will be full and I'm likely to feel fairly stressed out. Fortunately, we've streamlined Christmas a lot over the years--and this year even more. About three-quarters of my gift buying is done. We're not doing cards this year, and I probably won't make cookies. Even so, I'm going to need the quiet preparation of Advent more than ever.
How about you? Do you observe Advent? If so, what does it mean to you, and what observances do you practice?
23 comments:
Oh, my goodness. You've offered something that speaks deeply to me.
Off to find Anglican Prayer beads for a new Advent (plus) practice.
Thanks, Ruth!!!
I never heard of Advent until I became an Episcopalian 11 years ago. I married a former Roman Catholic at around the same time, and he brought a creche with him to our marriage. I just love the ritual of setting it up the first Sunday of Advent. I've never been a huge fan of the Christmas season as my entire life it has brought extended family fights (which continues to this day), but Advent is mine without the baggage. It speaks to me of the enormity of Christ's love. My personal practice is to go to the Diocese of Washington's web Advent calendar and do the meditations there.
I like your prayers for the Anglican Prayer beads. I've not used mine for a while--this is a kick start for me! Thanks!
Lutherans observe Advent and I always thought it was one of the most joyous times of the calendar.
I love your reasoning about putting up the creche first. We put our tree up first, but it wasn't out of any sane reasoning...it was just the first thing out of the way. I haven't put any of my nativities up yet, I'm trying to find the perfect place in the basement for a nativity to be displayed. I'm only having a tree in the basement this year, I'm going to put my large nativity upstairs, but no tree.
I guess you could say I'm saving the best for last!
Your Anglican pray is wonderful and I love the symbolism of the prayer beads.
I loved learning about the prayer beads – that was so interesting. Your prayer is very beautiful.
I attended an Episcopal church for about 10 years and never heard of an Anglican Rosary! I returned to the Roman Catholic church since then. As you can imagine, Advent is a big part of worship in the RCC. I do pray the Rosary almost every day. My beads were my grandmother's and were blessed by the Pope.
I am so low key about this season; have not put up Christmas decorations for years, but I always put out Advent candles. It's all I need, really, and it satisfies me better than all the other stuff.
Yes, as another comment said above, the Lutherans do observe Advent. We have mid-week Advent church services. An Advent candle wreath is next to the pulpit.
Your Advent prayer is beautiful, Ruth. I should look into getting a prayer bead rosary like this....maybe I could make something. It would definitely help me focus on the meaningfulness of Advent. Otherwise, we get so caught up in looking to Christmas right away.
Many blessings on your Thanksgiving weekend!
Lovely post Ruth. And I love the Anglican prayer beads, although as an RC I do pray the rosary, but believe that peace is in all the beads if we but let it.
I love Advent and am working on some posts for both of my blogs.
And I will be setting up my entire collection of creches - I have many, mostly very small ones, that I have gathered throughout all of my travels.
One of our priests introduced the Anglican Rosary to our congregation at the beginning of Lent this year. It's a wonderful way to remind ourselves of what's truly important. Your prayer is beautiful.
Yes, beautiful prayer.
And your idea of streamlining is a very good one...
Thank you for the piece on the prayer beads. I believe this might be just the practice I am looking for this Advent. I have a lot of beads and think I will make my own set this evening. My yearly practices involve daily scriptures, daily journaling. We also don't put the baby Jesus into the creche until Christmas Eve after church.
I adore Advent & I loved your prayer - may I link to it on my blog where I will be posting advent quotes/prayers over the next 4 weeks?
thanks,
roberta
What a beautiful prayer. Thank you!
We don't put up our Christmas tree until a few days before Christmas --if we put one up at all --we would put it up on Christmas Eve, but it's a working holiday in our house. But we do decorate with greens and other stuff.
We put up the cresche early on, but don't put the baby in the manger until Christmas Eve. And we set the shepherds up some place else, and bring them to the manger when the baby arrives. The Kings move around the house until Epiphany! It's always fun to see their progress! They go to the strangest places.
Last year was the first year that I made a point of observing Advent, and it was wonderful, so we're doing it again this year. Advent isn't something that's really emphasized in the church I attend, but I really wanted to put the focus on Christ during this time, so when I started reading about ways to observe Advent, I adopted some of them. That was also the time I learned about Anglican prayer beads and I've found them to be very helpful for focusing my thoughts and prayers. The prayers that you posted here are beautiful.
Your creche is similar to ours, though you have many more lovely figures.
My son and I observe Advent with a calendar from a Hallmark store I got when he was 2 years old to teach him the story of Jesus' birth. I've tried to persuade him to look for more elaborate calendars, but he loves this one. And, well, so do I.
I'm sure I do everything upside down and backwards, but we sure enjoy the process.
I adore this prayer. Thanks so much for it!!
Will be putting up my creche today, also.
Your header is beautiful!
Where do you get them. I too am going to try and keep advent better this year.
Another lovely post. What a pleasant surprise to see this photo of your creche. My Advent post has a similar picture -- same creche!
I bought my prayer beads at http://www.fullcirclebeads.com/
I love nativity sets! I kind of set my wise men off to the side, since they still had to travel a while yet, lol! Then my son teases me that I have them heading west or something. This is a nice prayer, especially at this special time to celebrate Jesus coming for us. I'd always been a bit curious about the rosary or prayer beads.
Ruth, thanks so much. I have been curious about the Anglican rosary. I now know how to begin. i'll be borrowing your prayers, they are just wonderful. Again thanks. I love the look of the blog btw!
I appreciate all your reflections! Do enjoy our new Advent/Christmas music meditation! We would love to have you share your comments!
Peace and all good!
http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/living/index.php/2008/12/01/bending-towards-the-light-by-anne-phillips/
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