Advent Week One: “Exchanging Battles for Hope”

Weekly Supply List

  • Journal or sketch pad
  • Pen, pencil, and markers
  • Aluminum foil & scissors
  • 1 small box
  • tape or glue
  • wrapping paper or stickers
  • Post-it notes or small squares of paper

Weekly Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5 (Good News Translation)

1 Here is the message which God gave to Isaiah son of Amoz about Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In days to come the mountain where the Temple stands will be the highest one of all, towering above all the hills. Many nations will come streaming to it, 3 and their people will say, “Let us go up the hill of the Lord, to the Temple of Israel’s God. He will teach us what he wants us to do; we will walk in the paths he has chosen. For the Lord’s teaching comes from Jerusalem; from Zion he speaks to his people.” 4 He will settle disputes among great nations. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.

5 Now, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light which the Lord gives us!

Invitation: Reread Isaiah 2:1-5 again, out loud slowly. In your own journal or this booklet, with your favorite pen or a fresh set of markers, take a moment to sketch a shovel or some pruning shears.

Reflection: Where are plows, shovels, and pruning shears used? How can they be symbols of hope? Write words and phrases that come to your mind.

Contemplation: What feeling or emotion word comes to mind as you draw and write? It might be a pleasant feeling or yucky feeling. Don’t judge your feeling, just write it down.

Discussion: If you are with other people now, take a moment to share what you wrote with each other.

Prayer Exchange: Take a long, deep breath. Say aloud, “Come Holy Spirit.” Close your eyes and hold out your hands (for reals, try it, even if you feel silly). Imagine that you are holding your sword or spear from Monday (pause here).

Next imagine that you hold out that weapon to Jesus and he smiles and takes it out of your hands with eyes that say, “Thank you for giving this to me. I have something for you in exchange.” He places a garden tool in your hands.

If the garden tool is an invitation to do something, ask Jesus, “what are you inviting me to?” Linger here and wait for something to come to mind. Consider whether you will except the invitation. Talk to Jesus about it. (Take as long as you need).

Amen.

 


Contributed by Angela Otero,

Pastor of Discipleship & Spiritual Formation