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    The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis
    The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis
    The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis
    Ebook127 pages1 hour

    The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis

    By Larry James Peacock

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    About this ebook

    Who came up with the idea of using nativity scenes to celebrate Christmas? Many might be surprised to learn that Francis of Assisi, the well-known thirteenth-century saint, is credited with creating the first nativity scene. The Living Nativity introduces readers to Saint Francis and his joyous reenactment of the birth of Jesus, complete with a manger and animals.

    The Living Nativity explores how nativity sets, Advent wreaths, candles, carols, Christmas cards, and other traditions help prepare our hearts for the God "who bends low to enter our world and our lives." Prayer poems for each day of the season lead readers to deepen their spiritual journey, and the book provides a guided pattern for individuals and small groups to share reflections and experience activities that open their hearts to the Christ child.

    The Living Nativity provides a prayer, meditation, and reflection questions for each day of Advent. The Leader's Guide includes suggestions for worship, discussion questions focused on the readings, and guidance for a mini-retreat on a theme of the week.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherUpper Room Books
    Release dateSep 1, 2018
    ISBN9780835817929
    The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis
    Author

    Larry James Peacock

    Larry James Peacock is pastor of Malibu United Methodist Church, Malibu, California. For over 20 years he has visited monasteries and retreat centers to chant the Psalms and learn a daily rhythm of prayer. Among the places he has traveled are the Taizé Community in France and the Iona Community in Scotland. A spiritual director since 1988, Larry has served on the faculty for both the Five-Day and Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation (sponsored by Upper Room Ministries) and has led numerous retreats. Beyond college and seminary, Larry’s continuing education includes a sabbatical at Pendle Hill, a Quaker center for study and contemplation; the Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation; and the Institute for Spiritual Direction and Retreat Leadership. Larry is married to author Anne Broyles; they have two children. He is a part-time potter and an occasional juggler.

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      Book preview

      The Living Nativity - Larry James Peacock

      The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis

      Copyright © 2018 by Larry J. Peacock

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write Upper Room Books, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37212.

      Upper Room Books® website: books.upperroom.org

      Upper Room®, Upper Room Books®, and design logos are trademarks owned by The Upper Room®, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations not otherwise noted are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

      Scripture quotations marked (AP) are the author’s paraphrase.

      At the time of publication all websites referenced in this book were valid. However, due to the fluid nature of the internet, some addresses may have changed or the content may no longer be relevant.

      Cover design: Dylan White

      Interior design: PerfecType, Nashville, TN

      Print ISBN: 978-0-8358-1790-5

      Mobi ISBN: 978-0-8358-1791-2

      Epub ISBN: 978-0-8358-1792-9

      CONTENTS

      First Week: Francis and the Living Nativity

      Introduction

      First Sunday of Advent

      First Week Meditations: Days One through Five

      Weekend Activity

      Second Week: From the Second Manger to Contemporary Expression

      Introduction

      Second Sunday of Advent

      Second Week Meditations: Days One through Five

      Weekend Activity

      Third Week: The Living Nativity in Global and Personal Context

      Introduction

      Third Sunday of Advent

      Third Week Meditations: Days One through Five

      Weekend Activity

      Fourth Week: Heightened Anticipation

      Introduction

      Fourth Sunday of Advent

      Fourth Week Meditations: Days One through Five

      Weekend Activity

      Fifth Week: Challenges and Resolutions

      Introduction

      First Sunday after Christmas

      Fifth Week Meditations: Days One through Five

      Weekend Activity

      Epiphany

      Leader’s Guide

      First Week Group Meeting

      Second Week Group Meeting

      Third Week Group Meeting

      Fourth Week Group Meeting

      Fifth Week Group Meeting

      Notes

      About the Author

         FIRST WEEK   

      Francis and the Living Nativity

      Introduction

      Saint Francis, in the thirteenth century, is credited with creating the first living nativity, a reenactment of the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable. I like to think of Saint Francis creating this second manger in a cave with hay and animals so that we would know the humbleness of the first manger and the Child who enters into the ordinary, common, and simple world of humanity.

      We will use the life of Saint Francis as a lens to explore the beginnings and variety of nativity and Advent traditions and the centrality of the Incarnation, not only for Saint Francis, but also for people today looking for signs of God’s love. We will look at the ordinary ways and common traditions used to prepare for the birth of the Christ child.

      As our journey to Christmas begins, I invite you to pray this prayer. Feel free to add your own thoughts.

      Holy One, into such a world as ours and such a time as this, you chose to enter. Again and again, you visit us in the darkest times of life. Again and again, you surprise us in the midst of hectic schedules, tense cities, world crises, and worried lives.

      Loving God, help us keep alert in this Advent season. Help us to slow down for prayer, to stand up for justice, to breathe deeply your love each day. Open us and make us ready for you. Amen.

      You may read this book individually, with your family, or with a group that gathers weekly to discuss it and pray together.

      Each week, there is a reading for every weekday of Advent, something to ponder and reflect upon, and a time of prayer. The sixth day suggests a weekend activity. I encourage you to make notes as you reflect and refer to them if you gather for a discussion with others on each of the four Sundays of Advent. Each Sunday includes a reading, prayers, and a ritual for lighting Advent candles on an Advent wreath. There is a fifth week of meditations with a focus on New Year’s Day and Epiphany.

      There is also a small-group guide at the end of the book that gives fuller instructions for a weekly mini retreat, a bit longer time for a group to share and participate in a suggested group activity. If you are part of a group, look at the small-group guide to see the order of the meeting and the activities suggested.

      If possible, make an Advent wreath for you and your home. Include any family or friends who might be joining you in the evenings (or other designated time) for the ritual of prayer and candle lighting. An Advent wreath can be any circular base that holds four candles, preferably purple or blue. Some stores sell an Advent candle set that includes three purple or blue candles and a pink candle, which is traditionally lit on the third Sunday of Advent. Some traditions also include a white candle in the center to represent the Christ child, which is lit on Christmas Eve or Day.

      Clay, wood, or other materials provide creative wreath-making options. Styrofoam (while not so earth friendly) purchased at craft stores works well for families with small children who want to help by adding pine branches to cover the wreath base. Many religious stores or online sites sell Advent wreaths of brass or pottery that you may use every year. Find or make a wreath that works for you and keep it on the table where you dine or in another prominent place for the Advent and Christmas season.

      Each day, light a candle as you enter the time of prayer.

      God’s blessings as you begin your Advent journey.

      First Sunday of Advent

      We do not know exactly when the tradition of celebrating the four weeks and Sundays that we call Advent began. While the feast of Christmas was observed by the fourth century, it is not until the later part of the sixth century that we have record of homilies for particular Sundays in Advent, which indicates that the practice of preparing for Christmas was numbered and named as Advent. Evidently, some parts of Europe had five Sundays of Advent, but documents show that Pope Gregory VII changed the number to four in the eleventh century. Today, we carry on the tradition of preparing for Christmas with four Sundays and their weekdays. Likewise, we observe the tradition of preparing for the other great Christian celebration, Easter, with the fifty-day journey of Lent.

      As you pray, please change the personal pronouns as needed to make the prayers speak to you. The prayers are written with the thought that even as we pray alone, we participate in a whole world of prayer going on at all times, in all places, and all around us.

      Centering Time

      Take a few deep breaths. Breathe in peace with each inhale. Breathe out worry with each exhale. Breathe in peace, let go of anxiety.

      Pray

      Cause us to breathe deeply, Loving God, just for this moment, a letting go of worry and anxiety about all that’s left to do. Center us in your amazing grace so that we may hear the flutter of angel wings, know the gift of your peace, receive the gift of our healing, and live in the grace of your forgiveness.

      May each breath open us to the simple and beautiful ways you are with us. Open us to the Child who comes to love us. Amen.

      Reading

      Choose from Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; or Luke 21: 34-36.

      These are lessons often read for the first Sunday of Advent. They may have been used in a worship service that you attended today. You may wish to explore the readings using different translations and having different readers. You may also choose different readings

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