Thursday, November 18, 2010

Celtic Advent

In the Celtic Christian tradition, Advent is a full 40 days of preparation, similar to Lent. In "The Celtic Daily Prayer" book by the Northumbria Community, it is described as a time of repentance, humbling and interior "housecleaning". John the Baptist's warning was to prepare a way for the Lord by making a clear and level path, getting rid of boulders (the things we have done that we should not have) and filling in the potholes (the things we should have done and failed to do).

In the past, I have only noticed Advent on Sundays when we lit a candle at church in the Advent wreath. I really love this idea of Celtic Advent as a way to spiritually prepare for the holiday season. In googling "Celtic Advent", I found the following at www.wellsprings.org.uk:

Opening Responses

Reader

Days of heavy clouds stifling the sunlight
the world burdened by greyness and gloom
ALL OPEN OUR EYES, LORD
TO THE COMING OF YOUR LIGHT
LIFTING THE BURDEN OF DARKNESS FROM OUR LIVES.
Reader Chillness that seeps deep into bones
hearts and spirits rigid with frost-hardness
souls wrapped up against coldness and loneliness.
ALL OPEN OUR SOULS, LORD,
TO THE WARMTH OF YOUR COMING
MELTING THE HARDNESS
THAT KEEPS US FROM YOU
AND FROM EACH OTHER.
Reader Trees - branches bare against the steel skies
stems crumpled under weight of frost - weight of snow
last year’s leaves - blackened and slippery underfoot -
nature oppressed by wintriness -
yet resting - awaiting rebirth.
ALL CHERISH OUR HEARTS, LORD
OPPRESSED BY WINTRINESS -
ASSURE US OF YOUR COMING
OF YOUR CALL TO NEW LIFE.
Closing Responses

R
eader

We take the light of our prayer into the world
ALL TO PRAY FOR THOSE UNABLE TO PRAY;
TO OFFER OURSELVES AS ANSWERS TO PRAYER.
Reader We take the light of our compassion into the world:
ALL TO COME ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING
ANGUISH OF HEART
ANGUISH OF MIND
AND BE AS CHRIST FOR THEM.
Reader We take the light of God's power into the world:
ALL GOD'S POWER MADE PERFECT IN POWERLESSNESS
STRENGTH MADE KNOWN IN WEAKNESS
LIFE MADE KNOWN IN DYING.
Reader

God enters the hearts of all who pray - and feel they are not heard
suffers their pain -
their humiliation -
carries the burdens of the world
and dies that we might live

May our God bless us

ALL THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
Reader And until we meet again

ALL

MAY GOD HOLD US IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
AMEN



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