The Whisper of Christmas

The Whisper of Christmas 

Joe E. Pennel, Jr., Nashville, Upper Room, 1984, p. 61

    

 "There is no evidence of any kind regarding the date of Jesus’ birth. His nativity began to be celebrated on Dec. 25 in Rome during the early part of the fourth century (AD 336) as a Christian counterpart to the pagan festival, popular among the worshipers of Mithras, called Sol Invictis, theUnconquerable Sun. At the very moment when the days are the shortest and darkness seems to have conquered light, the sun passes its nadir. Days grow longer, and although the cold will only increase for quite a long time, the ultimate conquest of winter is sure. This astronomical process is a parable of the career of the Incarnate One. At the moment when history is blackest, and in the least expected and obvious place, the Son of God is born…"

School Play

SCHOOL PLAY

HOW TO SURVIVE THE WEEK OF PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCES

1.  COSTUME – IF ALL ELSE FAILS COUNT ON EXTRAVAGANT COSTUMES TO BAIL YOU OUT.  IF YOU HAVE MINOR ACTING SKILLS LIKE ME, DOUBLE UP YOUR EFFORTS TO AT LEAST LOOK GOOD WHILE ACTING BAD.!

2.  BACKGROUND ASSET-  BE USEFUL BACKSTAGE WITH PROPS AND OTHER THEATER KNICK KNACKS.  IF YOU LOOK BUSY PEOPLE WILL THINK YOU ARE, SO DO YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKING BACKSTAGE WHILE HELPING GLUE THE LEAVES ON THE TREES.

3.  EXTRA, EXTRA!!- IF BEING ONSTAGE SCARES THE HELL OUT OF YOU, THEN DO LIKE I DO AND TAKE THE PART OF LEAST RECOGNITION.  BLEND IN WITH THE REST OF THE EXTRA CAST AND YOU WON’T FEEL EVEN A TINGE OF A BLUSH ON YOUR CHEEKS. 

4.  MAKE-UP APPRENTICE- THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BOOST YOUR MAKE UP SKILLS ON MANY DIFFERENT FACE SAMPLES.  GO CRAZY WITH COLORS.

5.  R &R-  IF PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT LEAVES YOU TIRED AND ENERGY DRAINED THEN USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO GO MALLING AND LOOSEN UP.  PASS BY THE MALL ON YOUR WAY HOME FROM PRACTICE BECAUSE HEY SINCE YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE CITY IT DOESN’T HURT TO SPEND A FEW MORE MINUTES JUST HANGING OUT.

6.  ENJOY!!-  THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING FUN WHILE DOING IT BECAUSE THEN YOU WON’T EVEN KNOW IT’S OVER TILL IT’S OVER!  HAVE FUN!!

Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath

The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ.

The colors of the candles vary with different traditions, but there are usually three purple or blue candles, corresponding to the sanctuary colors of Advent, and one pink or rose candle. One of the purple candles is lighted the first Sunday of Advent, a Scripture is read, a short devotional or reading is given, and a prayer offered. On subsequent Sundays, previous candles are relighted with an additional one lighted. The pink candle is usually lighted on the third Sunday of Advent.

The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope (or in some traditions, Prophecy). This draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of an Anointed One, a Messiah, that weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history.

The third candle, usually for the Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally Pink or Rose, and symbolizes Joyat the soon Advent of the Christ.  It marks a shift from the more solemn tone of the first two Sundays of Advent that focus on Preparation and Hope, to a more joyous atmosphere of anticipation and expectancy.  

The center candle is white and is called the Christ Candle.  It is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

The central location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season, giving light to the world.

Begin With Advent

by Victor Hoagland, C.P.

Begin with Advent, the four weeks before Christmas. It is a time of preparation, waiting and hope. The Advent liturgy resounds with the longing cries of the Hebrew prophets, the voice of Jesus, and John the Baptist's preaching that the Lord is near. Hear their message still ringing through today's dark winters.

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First Week of Advent

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake!...You do not know when the Master of the house is coming.'"Mark. 13:33 First Sunday of Advent

Second Week of Advent

When John the Baptizer made his appearance as a preacher in the desert of Judea, this was his them: Reform your lives. The reign of God is at hand!" Mt. 3:1 Second Sunday of Advent

Third Week of Advent

John's disciples said to Jesus, "Are you 'He who is to come' or do we look for another?" In reply, Jesus said: "Tell John what you hear and see: the blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, and the poor have good news preached to them..." Lk. 3:10 Third Week of Advent

Fourth Week of Advent

The angel Gabriel said to Mary, "Do not fear, Mary, you shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High..." Lk. 1 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Advent

1ST  SUNDAY OF ADVENT 

Systems have been completely cleaned out The Advent Virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous via email

WARNING……WARNING: ADVENT VIRUS

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus:

• A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
• A loss of interest in judging other people.
• A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
• A loss of interest in conflict.
• A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
• Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
• Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
• Frequent attacks of smiling.
• An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
• An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Please send this warning out to all your friends. This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it.

Yehey!!!

YEHEY!!! …OPPS!!!...OH NO!!!...WHEW!!!...SIGH!

YEHEY:  COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL I ENTERED OUR SUBDIVISIION ROAD WITH WINGS ON MY FEET.  I WAS FEELING PLAYFUL AND DARING SO IN ONE SWIFT MOVE I WAS ON THE LEDGE OF THE PLANT MOUND WHICH WAS A METER TALL AND STARTED TO DO A TIGHTROPE WALK ON IT ENVISIONIING MYSELF TO BE IN A CIRCUS ACT LIKE THOSE FRENCH CIRCUS GUYS.  I FELT INVISIBLE…FOR A FEW SECONDS AT LEAST, WHEN…

OPPS:  OUT OF NOWHERE MY ONCE AGILE FEET SUDDENLY FORGOT ITS ACROBATIC ABILITY AND LOST ITS FOOTING AT WHICH I FOUND MYSELF FLOATING IN THE AIR FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS MAKING MY ELBOW A PILLOW FOR MY HEAD TO SOFTEN MY FALL ON THE HARD CEMENT.

OH NO: OUCH WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO DESCRIBE THE WORD COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH.  IT WAS MORE LIKE A SHOUT!!  BUT THEN MY SHOUTING WAS CUT SHORT WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULDN’T MOVE MY ARM!  OH NO!  I HAVE A BROKEN ARM! I AM WOUNDED FOR LIFE! THERE WILL BE NO FUTURE FOR ME!...WAIT STOP THE “END OF THE WORLD” DRAMA…BUT SERIOUSLY I WAS  REALLY SCARED I MEAN LIPS PALE AS SNOW TYPE OF SCARED…OR TWILIGHT PALE LOOK SCARED.

WHEW:  SO WITH LIGHTNING SPEED MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME TO THE TRAUMA ROOM OF ILOILO DOCTOR’S HOSPITAL WHERE THE DOCTOR ASKED ME A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THEN HAD ME X-RAYED FOR BROKEN BONES.  RELIEF!! NO BROKEN BONES.  SO AFTER A FEW MUSCLE STRAINS AND SOME REALLY SERIOUS LOOKING BRUISES WE WENT HOME.

SIGH:  MOM SAYS THE MEDICINE THE DOCTOR GAVE WOULD PUT ME IN A DREAM STATE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT AND ALSO UNTIL THE NEXT DAY SO SHE  SAID NO  SCHOOL FOR ME TOMORROW.  WHAT A BUMMER!! ALL DAY BY MYSELF, NO FRIENDS , NO GOOFING AROUND, NO LESSONS…WAIT THIS IS GETTING BETTER…INTERNET ALL DAY!!...I THINK I JUST MIGHT LIKE BEING HOME ALONE TOMORROW!!  SO SIGH!?!

Boracay Sands

Boracay Sands- The sands that puts all other beach sands to shame! so soft, so fine, like silk on my toes! my favorite vacation happened last 2009 when we went to Boracay. From day one I pretended we were in an exotic island and adventure was just "footprints in the sand" away! I just loved the island tour the water rides and activities. But guess what my favorite activity is Restaurant Hopping! Food, glorious food! YUM! My stomach was so happy it hurts!

The best part of the trip was that I was with people I love my Family, my cousins, aunts and uncles. Nothing beats good o'l family fun and adventure when it comes to awesome memory recall!!! :)