Advent Daybook, 10: Delight

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Christmas Dance, Henri Masson (source)

Listen: Listen: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” from A Christmas Cornucopia, Annie Lennox

Read: Psalm 36, Isaiah 5:13-17, 24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Luke 21:29-38

Pray: "Father in heaven, we thank you that we may feel your leading, your lordship, for you have blessed us with every spiritual and heavenly gift in Christ. We thank you that we may be among those who receive true life always anew, who praise and glorify you, exulting even in difficult days. For it is just in the difficult days that we need to belong to those who are thankful and joyful, who always find new certainty in their lives. With them may we experience the good you give on earth so that humankind may be blest and come at last into your hands. Amen.” (source)

Do: Enjoy an impromptu chuckle with a friend today.

Advent Daybook, 9: Startled

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Daniel O. Stolpe, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 1995 (source)

Listen: "Keep Your Lamps” from That Eternal Day, Cantus

Read: Psalm 9, 15, Isaiah 5:8-12,18-23, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Luke 21:20-28

Pray: Prayers of the People (Form 6), Book of Common Prayer

Do: Refrain from a favorite beverage, dessert, or entire meal today.

Advent Daybook, 8: Messenger

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Piero di Cosimo (Piero di Lorenzo di Piero d'Antonio), The Young Saint John the Baptist, 1480

Listen: "Prepare the Way” from 30 Songs of Contemplative Worship, Simply Taizé

Read: Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:67-79, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

Pray: “Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Second Sunday of Advent)

Do: Attend a live performance or listen to a quality recording of Handel’s Messiah.

AdventTamara Hill MurphyDecember 9, 2018Advent Daybook 2018, [Look.Listen.Pray.Do.], handel, music

Advent Daybook, 7: Remaining In Zion

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Meg Hitchcock, Shema - Letters cut from the Koran, 2014 (source)

Listen: "Mt. Zion” from Live At Home, Cageless Birds (feat. Jonathan David Helser)

Read: Psalm 116-117, Isaiah 4:2–6, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Luke 21:5–19

Pray: from Inscriptions, 16: "The lamps are burning in the synagogue", Charles Reznikoff

Do: Spend 10 minutes quietly observing the night sky.

AdventTamara Hill MurphyDecember 8, 2018Advent Daybook 2018, [Look.Listen.Pray.Do.], Hannukah, poetry, textiles, Jerusalem

Advent Daybook, 6: My God, My God

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: A Senegalese woman kneels in front of a grave, 2017 (source)

Listen: “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People ” from Advent & Christmas 2015, The Many

Read: Psalm 22, Isaiah 3:8–15, 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12, Luke 20:41—21:4

Pray: "Lord our God, Almighty Father in heaven, we stand before you as your children, whom you want to protect through the need of our time, through all sin and death. We praise you for giving us so much peace in an age full of trouble, and for granting us the assurance of your help. Even when we suffer, we do not want to remain in the darkness of suffering but want to rise up to praise and glorify you. For your kingdom is coming; it is already at hand. Your kingdom comforts and helps us and points the way for the whole world, that your will may be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.” (source)

Do: Find joy in giving a simple gift to a friend or stranger you’d like to bless.

Advent Daybook, 5: Day of the Lord

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Angel of the Revelation, Vladimir Suchanek (source)

Listen: "Behold the Mountain of the Lord” from Very God, Godfrey Birtill

Read: Psalm 18, Isaiah 2:12–22, 1 Thessalonians 3:1–13, Luke 20:27–40

Pray: "Dear Father in heaven, we rejoice that you are our Father. We rejoice that you rule and guide each of us so that our path in life leads to what is good and genuine and we do not get stuck in this or that concern. Lead us, renew us, and again and again free us to go forward, finding new courage and joy for ourselves and for our fellowmen. Then we can praise you, your strength and power can be revealed to us, your heaven come down to earth, and your will be done on earth. Here on earth your help shall come to the poor, the weak, the lowly, the sick, and the suffering. May your name be praised! We rejoice in your name. Amen.” (source)

Do: Today is the Feast Day of Nichols, the Bishop of Myra! Give thanks for the life of the real Saint Nick today.

Advent Daybook, 4: Savior of the Nations Come

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Love One Another, Laura James (source)

Listen: "Savior of the Nations Come” from Advent No. 2, Holy City Hymns

Read: Psalm 12, 13, 14, Isaiah 2:1–11, 1 Thessalonians 2:13–20, Luke 20:19–26

Pray: On Thursdays through Advent we’ll practice a 5-minute contemplative prayer method adapted from Joshua Banner’s booklet “40 Ways To Spend 5 Minutes With God”.

Do: Re-write Psalm 13:5-6 in your own words to pray throughout the day.

Advent Daybook, 3: Arise, O Lord

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: JR, Gigantic Picnic at the US-Mexico Border Fence, 2018 (source)

Listen: "Rise Up" from Lamentations, Bifrost Arts Music

Read: Psalm 10 - 11, Isaiah 1:21-31, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Luke 20:9-18

Pray: The Lord’s Prayer

Do: Place a nativity set where you’ll be able to see it daily during Advent. If you own more than one, consider combining them all into a caravan.

Advent Daybook, 2: Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.

Look: Nicolas Sanchez, Escape, 2017 (source)

Listen: "Winterfire" from Uncomplicated Christmas Songs, Hymns from Nineveh

Read: Psalm 7; Isaiah 1:10–20; 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10; Luke 20:1–8

Pray: Prayers of the People (Form 6), Book of Common Prayer

Do: Today, let running water remind you to pray and give thanks for forgiveness.

Advent Daybook, 1: Redemption Is Near

An Advent daybook for these 24 days of prayerful expectation. Join me, won't you?

For an introduction to this series read this post: Advent Daybook explained.

Look: El Greco, Adoration of the Name of Jesus

Listen: "Wait For the Lord" from Joy on Earth, Taizé (lyrics)

Read: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36

Pray: “Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, Collect for First Sunday in Advent)

Do: Today, gather four or five candles in a special place in your house you can come back to each day of Advent. Light one candle this week.

AdventTamara Hill MurphyDecember 2, 2018Advent Daybook 2018, [Look.Listen.Pray.Do.], prayer, visual art