Merry Christmas and Happy 2014!

Well, Advent is over, the new year has come, the 12 Days of Christmas have passed, the celebration of the 3 kings (or wise men, aka Ephiphany) coming to visit the young child Jesus is here and we have yet to wish you a merry Christmas! 

Thanks to some friends, we had a "Malawian" Christmas tree this year! 
It was twice as tall, but we had to cut it down and used the greens for
the final Advent wreath and decorating around the house - very fun!

So, Merry Christmas!  We have thought of you often through this season of preparing for the celebration of Christ’s birth.  We’ve thought of the snow many of you enjoyed (or despised), the gatherings held at our home churches, the decorations you shared with us through pictures on Facebook or via email or postal mail.  We’ve enjoyed receiving your Christmas cards and newsletters (always beginning with my Aunt Angie and Uncle Dave – never to be beat!).  And we treasured the time we got to Skype with both Jonathan’s and my families as well!

Christmas was different this year.  We’ve been here a year and a half and are getting into the rhythm of the tropical climate, etc.  The Jesse Tree was something new in our household this year, centering our thoughts throughout the season on God’s love and promises throughout the history of the world, culminating on Christmas day with the arrival of Jesus on earth. 

Jesse Tree Ornaments

Our First Jesse Tree

This brief daily devotional walked us through the symbols of the Jesse Tree for this year.  The kids loved being able to hold the ornaments while we read and taking turns hanging them on our tree!  I enjoyed making them and may add some finishing touches to them as the years go on, but for the first year, they were quite sufficient!

Stump of Jesse, world, apple & snake, Noah's ark, Abram's tent & camel

TOP: Isaac's cradle, Jacob's ladder, Abraham's sacrifice (ram) [should
be switched with ladder], 10 commandments, Rahab's red rope
BOTTOM: Grain gleaned by Ruth, Samuel's horn of anointing oil,
Elijah's altar to God, Queen Esther's scepter, Hand of the
prophets (used instead of rose)

 

TOP: Wolf and Lamb, Jonah's big fish, Daniel and the lion's den,
Bethlehem, Zechariah & Elizabeth
BOTTOM: John the Baptist (instead of baptismal shell),
Mary's heart for God, Joseph's tools,
Sandals for Joseph & Mary's journey to Bethlehem,
Star of Bethlehem

We (especially I) have become more involved in our church home here in Blantyre (Blantyre Community Church) while Jonathan remains available to preach at BIC churches when called upon.  In addition to being on the Sunday school teacher rotation, one way I’ve begun to participate in church life is through assisting with planning worship.  Since I am so passionate about Advent, I offered some ideas this year.  As many of you know, when you offer ideas, you’re likely to do them...although it took a lot of energy, I really enjoyed offering myself in these ways!

Advent Wreath & Children’s Talks

Advent wreath on Christmas Day

Lighting the central Christ candle on Christmas morning!

Scripture Through Symbols 

With each Bible reading of the Christmas story throughout the
Christmas Day service, a child brought up a symbol to represent
that part of the story:
1: Hand of the prophets pointing to Jesus' coming
2: Luke 1:26-33 Angel visiting Mary
3: Luke 2:1-7  Jesus' birth
4: Luke 2:8-16  Angels visiting shepherds who visited Jesus
5:  John 1:10-18  Jesus among us today! (pictures of people at BCC)

Symbols of Advent (a mobile)

Having just moved to a new meeting space, we thought it'd
be neat to utilize the 3 flights of stairs up to the sanctuary!
A new ring with symbols and words for that week of Advent was
added each week - not pictured is the final Christmas ring.
(granted, much more interesting in person)

A close-up of the first week of Advent's ring:
Symbols: Stump of Jesse, Angel visiting Mary, First candle
on the Advent wreath, Hand of the prophets
Words: God's Plan, Hope, Promised One, Expectation

It is a joy for me to help people understand the Biblical story, not only through the written Scriptures, but also through visual representations and songs.  Children are especially known for catching ideas through visuals, but they can be very powerful in the midst of the fast-paced demands of adult life, too.  So, even when things are done in the name of the kids, adults can glean a lot as well! 

Some may call it too “high-church” or too reminiscent of a certain tradition, but honestly, I just find it downright useful in understanding the reason why we celebrate Christmas.  It pulls me back to the center of Christ, God’s love given to us, how the whole story of history is knit together by our heavenly Father and how much He sought to save us – and still does!

Continue living God's story!