Wild Blessings Advent
DAY 2
Wild Blessings Advent is your creative path to celebrate the coming of Jesus incorporating the wonders of the natural world around you.
Each day we will follow the rythym of Advent and the Christmas Season by incorporating these steps to take in the beauty of nature and the resources God has given us to learn more about Jesus, God come to earth.
1. Scriptures – Messiah is the Light of the World
OT- Genesis 1:3-5
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
NT- John 1:4-9
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person.
NT – John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
2. Christmas Music for the Season
Handel’s Messiah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR0cEOTpYSk
Watch a 600-strong Sydney Philharmonia Choir sing Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah, live from the Sydney Opera House. The Messiah was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741. He completed this musical masterpiece in less than 2 months with over 200 pages of musical scores! This oratorio has become one of the best known and most frequently performed choral works of all time.
In Part one the Messiah’s coming and the virgin birth are predicted by the Old Testament prophets continuing to the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in Luke’s gospel. Part 2 covers Christ’s passion his suffering, death and resurrection ending with the final victory over sin and death and ends with the Hallelujah chorus.
When I was a child my parents sang in St. Matthew’s choir, The Messiah every Christmas season. I can still hear my dad’s deep rich bass voice intoning “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Mom was a high soprano. It just wasn’t Christmas without Handel’s Messiah.
Enjoy this selection below from the Messiah, “For Behold…The people that walked in darkness.”
3. Activities
Today we are celebrating the Messiah as the Light of the world. Add lights to your Christmas tree and anywhere else to add sparkle. As you do think about the effects of light and it’s many blessings. When the tree is trimmed with lights turn off all the lights and play Handel’s Messiah “Behold, the people who walk in darkness will see a great light” and then turn on the tree lights to illumine the room.
• Light dispels darkness • Light brings warmth • Light brings joy
• Light brings growth • Light brings health • Light brings clarity
Candle Craft Ideas to make with nature
1. Driftwood or twig candle holder
2. Log candle holder
3. Floating apple lights with acorns
4. Recipes
Hickory Bark syrup to sweeten Hickory bark brew. Hickory has an amazing smokey and sweet flavor. Many love to smoke their meat with Hickory wood. This is such a sweet surprise. I hope you have a Shagbark Hickory tree growing near you!
Autumn Olive Berry Snicker Bars – a healthy alternative to Christmas cookies. Simple to make and very satisfying. If you have been foraging with me through the seasons I suspect you have some Autumn Olive Berries frozen in your freezer or some jam jars to use. These are amazing!
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)is an invasive shrub that produces loads of tangy but tasty berries each fall. It is easy to gather gallons within minutes to freeze for use. Their silvery leaves make them easy to spot.
Autumn Olive are a SUPERFOOD. High in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. They taste like a cross between a cranberry and a raspberry. The seeds are the sweet.
5. Handouts
Scriptures of the Day
1. Print out today’s verse
2. Keep all the verses in a Wild Blessings advent notebook that will keep all the handouts to come
Light and Life
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