Celebrating the season of Advent

"Advent"... is a word that I knew very little about until the last couple of years. My Christian upbringing may have included an emphasis on this early Church tradition, but it's only become more meaningful to me recently...

Thanks to my spiritual director friend Kristi, yesterday I had a chance to engage in the deeper meaning of Advent. Traditionally, the four weeks of Advent focus on four names or characteristics of God: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. To read more, click here. (Spiritual director and friend Larry Warner's website... a great resource)

 

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of how Kristi helped other retreatants and I enter into experiencing the theme of "Unto us a Child is Born" ... entering into the expectation, anticipation, preparation and longing for our Savior King's coming.

 "Where do you see the characteristics of God as Wonderful Counselor in the Christmas story?"

"We know God personally and are known by God, yet we do not understand God fully, for God is incomprehensible"... He is the Mighty God.

-- a question and quotation from the morning session

Space to reflect on Jesus as the great Prince of Peace... 

Looking at the contrast of peace versus conflict.

Lord, may your peace come to earth and good will be to all women and men.

A chance to embrace the story of Christ's birth... 

and to realize that "just as the wise men lay their gifts of beauty (gold, frankincense)

AND their gifts of sorrow (myrrh) at the feet of Jesus, 

by faith, to the best of [our] ability, 

[we can] offer these gifts today to the One who is called 

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, 

MIGHTY GOD, 

EVERLASTING FATHER, 

PRINCE OF PEACE."

There were moments to remember the connection between the cradle and the cross... 

Jesus was born in order to live a life that he would willingly lay down for us.

 

And some yummy cookies to enjoy as we finished our journey of being "alone together" for the day...

Thanks to Alison's recipe [found here].

May you enter more fully into the season of Advent this December.

And, if you're curious, Kristi's website has more information on how to pursue God further through the quiet, stillness, and rest spoken of in Scripture. She also holds regular reflective retreats that are open to all. Check it out here.

Merry Christmas!