Daily Advent Devotions from Lutherans Connect

Angels in Adoration (detail) by Benozzo Gozzoli (Source: Wikimedia Commons http://bit.ly/2AfxaGE)

The following is how Lutherans Connect has described this year’s on-line Advent daily devotions:

Many of us wish we could spend more time in spiritual practice than we do, but often find it challenging to make space for it in the day-to-day challenges of our lives. During the weeks leading up to Christmas it can be especially difficult to imagine a peacefulness in which we can experience God’s presence.

In the spirit of our ongoing seasonal devotional projects, Lutherans Connect invites you to make space for reflection and prayer this Advent by joining us in daily online devotions. As we have done in the past, these daily meditations will bring together scripture readings, poetry, songs and reflections, from a wide range of ecumenical traditions.

Our theme this Advent is ‘watchers and holy ones’. Inspired by the encounter of Mary and Gabriel in Luke 1, we will follow the path of the divine beings who profoundly impact and alter the lives of key figures in Scripture. Known more popularly as ‘angels’, these heavenly messengers bring news, instruction or just accompaniment as an expression of being ‘watchful’, ’awake’ and very present to the dilemmas of the biblical figures they encounter. Is there a path from the wilderness experience of Hagar to that of the adult Jesus? How do divine beings help to shape the biblical story?

In addition, we will also explore the ‘watches of the night’ in Scripture. These watches, or units of time from dusk to dawn, derive from the military exercise of keeping guard in times of battle. In Mark 13 Jesus also uses them as a metaphor for how we can learn to wait for His coming again. In the story of the nativity, the image is transformed to foreshadow Jesus the Shepherd, as shepherds themselves keep watch by night. What does it mean to each of us to be awake and prepared for new life?

Join us daily from December 3rd to December 24th as we reflect together and anticipate a dawn of hope. And may you experience the peace of the coming Saviour this Advent and always!

The devotionals can be found on the Lutherans Connect blog post or their facebook page.  You can also ask to have the devotionals e-mailed to you by writing lutheransconnect@gmail.com.