MR. G. A. HEARN graduated from the Federal College of the Bible in 1956. For five years he ministered at the Dulwich Church of Christ, South Australia, and is at present serving at Warragul, Victoria. In 1959, he received the Diploma of Religious Education from the Melbourne College of Divinity.

      Possibly your first reaction to a pamphlet on "The Observance of Advent" will be: "What is it all about?" This is not a familiar term to our churches, but it is part of the heritage of the Church Universal. It was unfortunately lost to our churches during the period of denominational isolation. However, with the emergence of the ecumenical movement, and in more recent years, the liturgical movement which has challenged all the churches to examine their worship afresh, there has been a renewed emphasis upon "The Christian Year." Before proceeding further it might be helpful briefly to consider:

What Is Advent?

      The season of Advent, which commences on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas Day, is a period of preparation for celebrating the Birth of Christ. It is the beginning of The Christian Year when we commence to trace the loving purpose of God through the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies in the birth of our Lord. This loving purpose continues in the manifestation of God's glory through our Master's life and ministry (Epiphany), in the path that leads to the Cross (Lent), in Christ's subsequent Resurrection and Glorification (Easter and Ascension), and in the continuing ministry of Christ through the Holy Spirit in the life of his people (Pentecost). The first half of The Christian Year then closes with Trinity Sunday which declares the fullness of the Christian revelation of God. The following Sundays to Advent are named "after Trinity" and are devoted to exposition of the implications for faith and conduct of the great events of the Gospel story. This is only a brief summary of The Christian Year and such booklets as "The Christian Year" by D. Roy Briggs, Independent Press, give a fuller treatment.

      In addition to tracing the preparation for Christ's coming in the old Testament, Advent is a time of hope and warning as we are reminded of His continual coming into the life of His people and of His final return.

      Over a period of years the Church Universal has emphasised various themes for each of the Sundays in Advent. These are given to guide our thoughts and devotions rather than to be a rigid pattern.

      The First Sunday in Advent has been associated with an emphasis upon Christ's Final coming at the consummation of the ages. This is a theme that is either neglected or abused in the modern Church, and there is great value for Ministers who are reluctant to preach regularly upon this subject having to discipline their hearts and minds to give an ordered sermon upon this theme, clearly setting out the Biblical perspective and background.

      The Second Sunday in Advent has for a long time "been associated with the gift of the Holy Scriptures and especially with their witness to Christ's Coming."

      The Third Sunday in Advent has traditionally emphasised the Ministry of the Gospel. "On this day whilst recalling that our Lord Jesus Christ sent His messengers before His face to prepare His way before Him, the Church makes special remembrance of all called to the sacred ministry."¹ Thus witnesses to Christ's Coming form the theme here.

      The Fourth Sunday in Advent is a time of anticipation of the Coming of Christ at Bethlehem and the great blessing it brought to mankind.

      Christmas Day climaxes the observance of Advent as with hushed hearts and minds we glorify the "Word made flesh."

Why Keep Advent?

      It is not the purpose of this pamphlet to make a long plea for the observance of the Christian Year--this has already been achieved in a previous Provocative Pamphlet (No. 77, "The Use of the Christian Year' by S. H. Wilson)--but briefly in this section to re-emphasise the reasons for its observance.

      The observance of the Christian Year (and this of course applies to Advent) is important because it:

      (i) Is a systematic rehearsal of the mighty acts of God.

      (ii) Is Bible based.

      (iii) Reminds us that our faith is rooted in history.

      (iv) Is a framework for covering the whole counsel of God.

      (v) Makes provision for spiritual preparation for the celebration of the great festivals of our faith.

      (vi) Is a practical expression of our desire for Christian unity.

      (vii) Affords evangelistic opportunities.

      So James Stewart in one of his books on preaching says: "My second plea is for a due observance of the Christian Year. Such observance has no small ecumenical value; it is one way of asserting through all our differences and divisions our essential unity in Christ. But what mainly concerns us here is its place in preaching. The great landmarks of the Christian Year--Advent, Christmas, etc. . . . . set us our course, and suggest our basic themes. They compel us to keep close to the fundamental doctrines of the faith. They summon us back from the bypaths where we might be prone to linger, to the great highway of redemption. They ensure that in our preaching we shall constantly be returning to those mighty acts of God which the Church exists to declare. In passing I would remind you that the true meaning of Christmas can unfold itself only to those who have climbed the slopes of Advent.

      "Throughout these periods of the year, therefore, our preaching ought to be especially directed, Sunday by Sunday, toward preparing our people in heart and mind for the fresh disclosure of Himself which it is God's will to send. Then indeed the great triumphant festivals of universal Christendom will become high places of the spirit, a mighty means of grace to a people prepared for the Lord."²

How to Observe Advent.

      Thus we come to the central purpose of this pamphlet. Briefly, I wish to list various ways a helpful observance of Advent can be achieved by us as a. Brotherhood, as local churches, as families and individuals.

A--As a Brotherhood.

      Most of our churches consistently follow the Readings and Hymns on our Austral Calendar and whilst this is not an official lectionary formulated by a Federal Conference Department it is a lead in the liturgical life of the churches. However, there is still much to be desired in relating the scripture lessons to the great festivals of the Christian Year. For the first time over recent years our New Testament Lessons in Advent this year show some awareness of the significance of this time. Could it not be suggested that at Festival times at least there be three scripture lessons in our Morning Service--Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel--especially when the New Testament lesson is from an epistle. This would help to emphasise the importance of the words of our Lord or of some event in His

life as it refers to a particular season.

      Such lectionaries of scripture lessons as prepared by our British Churches of Christ are invaluable for Advent. "Prayers for the Christian Year" (Church of Scotland) is also an excellent guide in this direction.

      It is hoped that our Hymn Book Committee which is currently revising our hymnal will take advantage of the opportunity to augment our limited supply of hymns and responsive readings for this season.

B--As Local Churches.

      It is here that the best opportunity exists for the observance of Advent. This section will naturally claim the attention of ministers and those who have the responsibility of leading the worship of our churches.

      As it has been pointed out many times there are inherent dangers both in a "fixed" and "free" liturgy. "When the non-liturgical churches decided to dispense with officially recognised forms of public prayer, and to trust the individual minister with the responsibility of formulating his own prayers, they took a fateful step. Those clergymen who have been reared in a non-liturgical tradition and who would not feel at home in any other, should be the first to confess the widespread inadequacy of public prayer in their services of worship.

      One reason for this is the idea that the reading of a printed prayer can readily become a mere routine procedure--as it undoubtedly can and that to be genuine a prayer should be spontaneous and extempore. This emphasis on spontaneity, however, neglects the fact that leading a congregation in public prayer is a work of art, demanding expert skill and painstaking preparation. Extempore spontaneity is not the only alternative to a printed liturgy. The real alternative is thoughtful, careful, skillful preparation."³

      We can be guided in this "thoughtful, careful, skillful preparation" by manuals of worship prepared by Churches throughout the world--see appendix. Whilst some of the language in these books needs modernising they provide an excellent guide in the preparation of public prayer. I have usually drawn heavily upon these works for the prayers of adoration, confession, thanksgiving and petition, while following a freer type of prayer for intercession.

      The following is one example of prayers for the First Sunday in Advent. They include a Call to worship, and prayers of adoration, confession, and petition. They are taken from "Prayers for the Christian Year" (Church of Scotland).

      "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge His people. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is judge Himself.

      Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

      Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching."

      PRAYERS: Almighty and everlasting God, who orderest all things in heaven and on earth; we give Thee thanks and praise that Thou didst make all ages a preparation for the coming of Thy Son, our blessed Redeemer. Prepare us for the coming of Him whom Thou dost send, and grant that of His fulness we may all receive; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      Heavenly Father, we acknowledge our unworthiness to come before Thee. We have sinned against Thee, through ingratitude, disobedience, and hardness of heart. We have not heeded the warnings of Thy prophets nor waited for the appearing of Thy Son. We have loved the world and the things of the world, and have not sought

Thy Kingdom and righteousness. Wherefore we beseech Thy mercy.

      Almighty God have mercy upon us; reckon not against us our transgressions, but pardon our offences. Increase in us Thy heavenly grace, that we may be fortified against all enemies, visible and invisible, and being delivered from blindness of heart and wilfulness of sin, be as men who watch for their Lord; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      O God who hast made us for Thyself; cleanse us of evil, we beseech Thee in body, soul, and spirit; incline our hearts to Thy testimonies and turn away our eyes from beholding vanity. Help us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; deliver us from the undue love of earthly things, and set our affections on things above. Take us into thy care and guidance as we offer and present ourselves to Thee for Thy service; use us as Thou wilt and when Thou wilt, to the good of our fellowmen and the glory of Thy holy name. Amen."

      The collect for the day from the Book of Common Prayer can also be a good guide in preparing public prayer. Both in brevity and structure the collect has long furnished a model for public praying. For the season of Advent, the following is a good example: "Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen."

      Devotions at our auxiliaries (especially C.Y.F. and C.E. groups) can be helpfully based upon the theme of Advent. The Youth Fellowship Kit published by the Westminster Press, U.S.A., among other publications, contains some excellent aids in this field.

      Advent also provides excellent material for sermons. Series of sermons which come to mind are: The great words of Advent--Hope, Judgment, Comfort; The Coming Christ--who came at Bethlehem, Pentecost, The Destruction of Jerusalem, in Conversion, and finally at the end. Each of the Sundays in Advent provide their own topic--The Final Coming, The Scriptures' Witness to Christ and their importance in our lives, Witnesses for Christ . . . .starting with John the Baptist and finishing with ourselves witnessing to Christ's continual coming into men's lives and heralding His final return.

      Advent in the local church provides a wonderful opportunity for good music. We all love the glorious Christmas carols even if they become hackneyed with commercial usage--why not try to learn some of the great music of Advent? The Oxford Book of Carols contains many suitable pieces. Such hymns as: "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," and, "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord," are excellent examples of Advent hymns and can be suitably used for choral anthems.

      One of the greatest services for Advent is the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas, which is found in "Prayers for the Christian Year." The writer has regularly used this service on the Sunday evening prior to Christmas Day, and it is suitable for churches with trained choirs or small congregations. The purpose of this service is to save us from the sentimental extremes into which some Carol Services degenerate and to place the Christmas message in its full perspective.

      After a call to worship and prayers the service follows the pattern of nine selected lessons interposed with Advent and Christmas anthems by the choir and/or carols by the congregation.

      1st Lesson: God declares in the Garden of Eden that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head--Genesis 3:13-15.

      2nd Lesson: God promises to Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed--Genesis 22:15-18.

      3rd Lesson: Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by the prophet Isaiah--Isaiah 9:2-7.

      4th Lesson: The prophet Micah foretells the glory of Bethlehem--Micah 5:2-4.

      5th Lesson: The Angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary--Luke 1:26-33, 38.

      6th Lesson: Matthew tells of Christ's nativity--Matt. 1:18-23.

      7th Lesson: The shepherds go to the manger--Luke 2:8-16.

      8th Lesson: The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus--Matthew 2:1-11.

      9th Lesson: John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation--John 1:1-14.

      It is helpful if there is a nativity scene and a symbol of a star in a central position for this service.

      Various Advent themes can be devised to meet local needs and situations. Alfred Shands in "The Liturgical Movement and the Local Church" writes of a "Gospel Festival", in which a choir sings answers from the Bible to some of the burning questions of the day. The congregation would pick out three or four problems most of the parish is facing, such as:, control of the Atom Bomb, personal anxiety, or an increase in crime. On one side of the platform a member could read out of the local newspaper specific news items which illustrate these problems and then a choir on the other side would sing in unison one or more verses from the Gospels which give the nucleus of the Christian answer to these problems. The conclusion would be the common need of the world for the Gospel--a theme of Advent. This could be carried out effectively in our situation as a C.Y.F. service with a verse-speaking choir responding with the Gospel passages.

      Many more possibilities for Advent services for the local church could be enumerated--candlelight services, Christmas Eve services, etc. The important thing is to see that these are opportunities to give expression to the Gospel in dramatic form. They are not in any sense to be carried out as a performance nor for the sake of novelty. Without a grasp of their meaning and significance they are valueless.

C--As Families.

      Advent and Christmas are also great family occasions and observances and as such should be encouraged. Shands again gives an example when he writes: "Mothers ought to see that children fully participate in the expectation of Advent. She might help them to make an Advent tree before the family begins to think about a Christmas tree. This is a tree with all the Messiah's ancestors attached to it. (Christ of the tree of Jesse)".

      The Christmas Bowl Appeal affords a practical opportunity for families to develop the spirit and practice of concerned sharing with others. The bowl can be placed near the Christmas tree or in some other prominent position to receive gifts regularly for the Inter-Church Aid Christmas Appeal.

      These are but two examples to stimulate further thought on the part of others regarding the observance of Advent in the family.

D--As Individuals.

      Finally, we can consider our observance of Advent as individual Christians. At this time of the year many of us are spending increased time in social functions and entertainment. Surely it is important that we should also increase our spiritual preparation. I have usually suggested several relevant books at each of the great festivals for church members to read. There are many suitable books available on this theme, both devotional and somewhat more technical, which are listed in the appendix.

      Our Bible study should not be neglected at this time. Isaiah with its message of hope and comfort, or I Peter, followed through with a good commentary such as "The Torch Bible or Layman's Commentary" would be of much benefit, and, of course, we cannot neglect the book of Revelation. This somewhat bewildering book becomes alive with meaning when followed through with such a writer as William Barclay in "The Daily Bible Study" series, or with the "Torch Bible Commentary."

      Our personal preparation is incomplete without prayer and meditation. As we study concerning the coming of Christ at Bethlehem, His continual coming into our lives, and as we await His final return, surely our prayer ought to be that our lives will be increasingly filled with His Spirit and influence that we may be as servants who await their Lord.

      As thus in our church, and families, and in our private study and devotion we trace the loving purpose of God our response on Christmas morning will be an intelligent, heartfelt:

Prayer Manuals:

Prayers for the Christian Year, Church of Scotland, (Oxford University Press).

A Book of Public Prayers, Harry Emerson Fosdick, (Harper Press).

Prayers and Services for Christian Festivals, J. M. Todd, (Independent Press).

Christian Worship--A Service Book, G. Edwin Osborn. (Bethany Press).

For Study:

A. G. Hebert: The Throne of David. (Faber and Faber).

John A. T. Robinson: Jesus and His Coming. (S.C.M. Cheap Edition).

T. F. Glasson: His Appearing and His Coming. (Epworth Press).

J. Ernest Rattenbury: The Star and the Cradle. (Epworth Press).

T. Roy Briggs: The Christian Year. (Independent Press).