Resources - Advent 1 - 3 December 2023

Let us pray (in silence) [that we long for the advent of Christ]

Pause

Almighty God, [or God of hope or God of justice and peace]
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness,
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in the which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
so that on the last day when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal,
through him who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit now and for ever.
Amen.

This is my rendering of a historic collect for Book of Prayers in Common.

Here is the commentary for that collect: Advent collect – reflection from the collect/opening prayer or see below.

Lectionary Readings Introduction

This site provides something different: many sites and books provide a brief summary of the reading – so that people read out or have in their pew sheet an outline of what they are about to hear. They are told beforehand what to expect. Does this not limit what they hear the Spirit address them? This site provides something different – often one cannot appreciate what is being read because there is no context provided. This site provides the context, the frame of the reading about to be heard. It could be used as an introduction, printed on a pew sheet (acknowledged, of course), or adapted in other ways. This is an experimental venture and I will see how useful it appears.

Isaiah 64:1-9

Third Isaiah, chapters 56-66 are stylistically similar to Second Isaiah (chapters 40-55) but in a different historical context. The exiles have returned to Judah and appear to be rebuilding the Temple (66:1). The reality, however, has, as is so often the case, not been as exciting as was anticipated. Isaiah 63:7-14 is praise based on historical remembering (anamnesis). This leads into lament (63:8-64:4a) and confession and petition.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Paul is writing from Ephesus around 54CE. He will stay in Ephesus for a while, and then travel to Macedonia and Corinth. Timothy has been sent before him. Corinth was a significant diverse city. This introduction highlights some of what will follow, including probably ironically verses 5 and 7.

Mark 13:24-37

The destruction of the city will come during the lifetime of those listening. There is little focus on the future in Mediterranean cultures. The NRSV has rightly translated the word “slaves” in verse 34. Slaves are like members of a family. With a strong focus on the present, there is challenge and encouragement to not forget the future.

Today’s readings online

Reflection on the Collect

Prior to 1549 the Latin Missal had a “Stir up” collect. The collect is based on Romans 13:12, still retained as the second reading in Year A. It holds together cast off darkness – put on light, mortal life – life immortal, great humility – glorious majesty. The fulcrum is our own present “now” (this “now” in the 1549-1928 versions was also contrasted with “in the last day”, words retained in some contemporary versions but removed in NZ).

The conclusion may have been derived from a postcommunion prayer in the Gelasian Sacramentary (1145) [Gregorian Sacramentary (813) Other prayers for Advent] “that they who rejoice at the advent of your only-begotten according to the flesh, may at the second advent, when he shall come in his majesty, receive the reward of eternal life.”

The requirement to repeat the collect after other collects (sic.) every day in Advent is a 1662 innovation by Bishop Matthew Wren. This was softened to “may be said” in the Table to Regulate Observances p.941 NZPB. That whole Table has been removed in the 2005 edition by General Synod in 2004. But the suggestion has, for some reason, been retained in the Lectionary. There is no suggestion or mention of it in General Synod’s replacement text on precedence in liturgical observance. I most strongly advocate that contemporary renewed understanding of the function of the collect means that there is only one collect in the Gathering in a Eucharist. To do otherwise disempowers a collect, diminishing it to the level of another one of the leader’s favourite prayers. [See alsoCelebrating Eucharist Chapter 6]

Common Worship version CofE:

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Book of Common Prayer 1979 version The Episcopal Church (USA)

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness,
and put on the armor of light,
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your 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 living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

New Zealand Prayer Book version

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast off the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
so that when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit
one God now and for ever.
Amen.

NZPB p. 550c

Slow Advent

Each year, I have advocated for a “Slow Advent. I do so again this year.

Slow Advent is a way of living Advent. Advent can so easily be cluttered with shopping and end-of-year stuff. In the Southern Hemisphere examinations and end-of-school year and preparing-for-summer-holidays are added. Some people advocate for a longer Advent period (eg. Celtic Advent, Quadragesima Sancti Martini). Slow Advent is saying – less is more: live Advent slowly, and try to add less.

As Slow Food is to Fast Food – so Slow Advent is to most people’s Fast “Season of Advent”. You can add your ideas and practices (if you like – in the comments area below).

In previous years, I have made a special facebook event. But facebook no longer allows an event of such length. In our culture (reflected in facebook) slow and long is not in. Fast and short is in. This year, I’m suggesting that if you are trying for a Slow Advent, that whenever and wherever you post about it, you use the hashtag #SlowAdvent.

Here is an example of a previous Slow Advent.

We in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere have an experience of December which is quite different to Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. Here we too are waiting, but it is for the summer holidays, for examinations and their results, and for the end of the year. Images of reassessment, first-fruits, new birth and springtime link surprisingly well even with the readings of the Three Year Series and its derivative, the Revised Common Lectionary, both designed in the Northern hemisphere.

Original, Southern Hemisphere Advent collects
An outline example and resources for an Advent Eucharist
Advent in the Southern Hemisphere

Advent wreath blessing
Southern Cross Advent Wreath blessing

Advent penitence

O Antiphons chants

A Brief History of Advent

Resources beyond this site:
Resourcing Preaching Down Under
Textweek
Girardian reflections on the lectionary

If you have any other Advent suggestions or resources, please add them in the comments below.