Advent in 2 minutes Check out this Youtube video
Advent in 1 minute– A 2015 video from St. Mary’s Cypress
Bishop Goff on Advent – the most wonderful time of year
Explore Advent, Part 1– Over the next 4 Sundays there will be a presentation each week focusing on that week’s scriptures, art and commentary and how they demonstrate the themes of advent. Let’s get started with Advent 1.
Advent is the time when we change to a different year in the Lectionary. This year we move from Year C to A and from a concentration on the Gospel of Luke to Matthew. There are several articles which are a general introduction to Matthew 1. Shortest from christianity.about.com 2. Longer from the Catholic Bishops 3. Longest from a Catholic portal. At the bottom of the page there is a link to this page, which covers the readings and offers a mediation on each section.
Interested in the Church calendar ? Matthew’s interest about time in First Advent lends itself to understand how we measure time.
Advent resources from the Episcopal Church Foundation.
The Season of Advent is alive with colors, candles, wreaths and song. David Bratcher has written a wonderful article on Advent traditions.
There are several articles/presentations about the infancy narratives 1. Brief summary between Matthew and Luke 2. Longer comparison 3. Web comparison
Advent is a time when we take on different disciplines;. Here is Rev. Brad Jackson’s 20 minutes of Advent a day
Advent is a time of meditations.
There will be a number of these meditations added through the season.
1. From Kentucky Crescent Hill Baptist which has meditations from Advent 1 through Christmas.
2. From Creighton University, a Jesuit college – Praying Advent
3. From Wales, Advent Themes and Resources. This has a "pop-up" lectionary at the bottom.
4. From the Episcopal Church Foundation’s Vital Practices –
A. What Fresh Hell is This – The wait demanded of us in Advent is a more difficult one with no tangible outcome accessible to us. A reflection to think about Advent through Joseph’s eyes as he travels to Bethlehem with Mary.
B. Secrets of the Advent Artichoke. Feeling pressure to have everything done already? “Secrets of the Advent artichoke” for a season in which we prepare and anticipate
C. Taking Advent to the Streets. Some real Advent actions throughout the season
5. Barbara Crafton on spiritual discipline in Advent (Credo)
6. Messiah: Joy is Foretold – Listen to musical selections while reading short reflections, this devotional book from St. John the Divine in Houston, Texas can be read and listened to online or downloaded to your computer.
7. Reflection on Advent – Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury shares an Advent Reflection.
Advent is a time of music. Here is a link to National Cathedral’s Advent Lessons and Carols held on First Advent.This is the one held Nov. 29, 2015