Open Advent Window 6 – Advent Candle

Waiting

Reflection by James Watson
(Minister of Westbury Baptist Church)

Doesn’t Christmas Eve always feel like the longest night of the year?! You know Christmas Day is just around the corner but the waiting goes on…and on…and on!

At Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church we’re thinking about waiting this Advent – and how we can worship God in the waiting. The word Advent actually means ‘coming,’ or ‘arrival’. And this time of Advent helps us to think about what it was like for people as they waited for Jesus to come – for God’s King to arrive and save them!

As followers of Jesus today, we also wait for his promised return, when he will come again and make all things good and new.

As we lit our Advent Candles last Sunday we used our imaginations to allow God to show us how we can worship him as we wait for him. Perhaps you can take a moment to use your imagination now to do the same?

Why don’t you start by taking a few deep breaths and asking God to speak to you through your imagination?

To begin with, think about a time when you were about to go to a party or a celebration. Maybe it’s your birthday party or perhaps last year’s Christmas Day!

Imagine yourself waking up on the morning of that party. The sun breaks through your curtains, your eyes open and you remember that today is the day!
How do you feel? What emotions are connected with that morning? What does it feel like in your body? Take a moment to imagine yourself in that situation.
Now imagine a day in the future. It’s the morning of another party, but this time you know that Jesus is coming to your party!

The sun breaks through your curtains, your eyes open and you remember that today is the day. How do you feel about finally meeting with Jesus? What emotions are connected with that morning? What does it feel like in your body? Take a moment to imagine yourself in that situation.

Finally, reflect on the preparations you’d make to meet with Jesus. If you knew you were meeting him face to face, what would you do? What would be your priorities as you got out of bed and started the day? What questions would you like to ask him? What would you be most excited to show him? How would you live in the light of Jesus coming to your house?

To finish, you can us this prayer.

Lord Jesus, thank you that Advent reminds us of your promise to come again. You’ve promise to return and there will be a great celebration! Help me to live in the light of your coming, anticipating your arrival, being ready to meet with you – to worship in the waiting.

Amen

Print and Colour a Nativity Scene

Each Advent Day we will provide one page for you to print, colour, cut and arrange in to a Nativity Tableaux.

Introduction to the Printable Nativity Advent Calendar to ColourDownload