All posts by Rev. Paul M. Turner
The Season of Advent has Arrived
Starting in about the 9th century in the Western Church, the season of Advent has been celebrated as a period of preparation for the birth of our Lord and the beginning of the ecclesiastical year (Church year).
In the early church words Advent, Epiphany, and Nativity were used interchangeably to denote the “feast of the Nativity”. Advent services first appeared in the 6th century in the church of Gaul. Epiphany was observed as a baptismal festival and the period preceding it was utilized as a period of preparation for baptism, much like the season of Lent. So Advent originated as a type of “little Lent”. From France the observance spread to England in the 7th and 8th centuries. In the 9th century, Advent was finally incorporated into the Roman Rite.
THE MEANING OF ADVENT:
The word “Advent” means literally, “to come to”. It is a special season when we celebrate the bold claim that the Lord of the Universe has come among us in human form through Jesus the Christ. In him we have Immanuel, God with us. Not only do we celebrate that God has come to the world in human form from Galilee but also that God is come as a spiritual reality and will come again in triumph at the close of the age.
There is another sense to the definition of Advent, “to come to”. Since God has, is and will come to us, therefore we need “to come to”. Our task as people in full relationship with God is to become fully awake not only to the importance of indwelling but also to the many immersions of Christ in our lives. None of us is fully conscious of God’s presence; we need to come to, to wake up, and be vigilant for the visits of God within history and at the end of time when God’s realm is fully realized.
THE MOOD OF ADVENT:
If God is coming to us and we truly believe that to be true, our mood will be one of excitement, anticipation, and joyful preparation. Mood is conveyed through color and light. As the awareness of the celebrative nature of Advent has grown, many congregations have substituted blue for the older tradition of purple, as we have done in our church. The brighter color of blue, the color of infinite sky, conveys better the bright hope of eternal life in the Christ than the more somber and sacrificial purple.
THE MESSAGE OF ADVENT:
As we look at God’s word, we need to understand how the Christ (as the word of God) comes to humankind now and how we can receive and carry the Christ’s presence today. This starts with our Love…and the guides for which can be found all throughout scripture. We are calling the next four weeks “The Advent Stages of Love”– The Offering Quality time, Gifts, Acts of Service and Words of Affirmation. The task then becomes to take this journey over the next 4 weeks to come into a full consciousness with God, who comes to us in Jesus the Christ and these stages of God’s love.
This Week’s Message
“Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
This Week’s Message
“Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21 (MSG)
WEATHER ALERT FOR THIS SUNDAY
This Week’s Message
“But now thus says the Lord, the one who created you, O Jacob, the one who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (NRSV)
This Week’s Message
Gentle Spirit Christian Church
First Christian Church of Decatur
Unity Fellowship of Greater Atlanta
Sunday, November 17,2019, 10:30 AM
Twenty-Third after Pentecost
You and yours are invited to join Unity Fellowship Church Greater Atlanta, Gentle Spirit Christian Church, and First Christian Church of Decatur for a shared worship service dedicated to honoring, remembering and celebrating the transgender community, those who have passed away, and the love God has for each and all of us, just as we are. Here All Means All. Preaching: Jennifer Hasler, Ph.D.
601 West Ponce de Leon Decatur, GA 30030
OWN YOUR FAITH, DON’T RENT IT!
This Week’s Message
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NRSV)
This Week’s Message
“Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” Proverbs 31:8-9 (MSG)
ANNOUNCEMENT
SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICE: November 17, 2019, you are invited to join Unity Fellowship, Gentle Spirit and First Christian Church of Decatur for a worship service dedicated to honoring, remembering and celebrating those in the Transgender community. 10:30 AM at First Christian Church of Decatur 601 West Ponce de Leon Decatur, Georgia 30030.