“Comfort, o comfort my people, says your God.” The Prophet Isaiah (40:1) reminds us that when we are not at peace, God provides comfort. God is always there, ready and willing, for us to turn over all our problems. However, sometimes our lack of peace stems from our hearts breaking for the many around us who are hurting, and the injustices of our world.
The prophet continues: A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain. (Isaiah 40:3-4)
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we are called to prepare the way of the Lord. We need to prepare our hearts. Often Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. We need the peace that only God can give to us in our world that is full of hurting people. Sometimes we cannot see people’s pain. They may smile, even when they feel like crying. Other times we read about or watch people’s pains on the news. We may intimately know the pain of a loved one, and certainly our own troubles.
We are called to prepare the way by responding to the many hurts around us. Shine the light of peace so that the places that may feel like the wilderness will instead feel like even, level ground for all. We can visit the lonely, take a meal to the sick, volunteer with an organization who is serving a group or cause that makes our heart break. One way to define peace for ourselves is knowing that we are doing what God has called us to do. Other definitions are security, freedom, harmony, and tranquility.
Prayer: Prince of Peace, we anticipate you coming to us as an infant in a world that was in distress. We long for the peace that you offer, and we want to be a part of sharing that peace with others. Send us your peace, and stir our hearts to be peacemakers. Amen.
Activity: Make and/or give an Ornament. Think of someone special as you are making your ornament, and/or give the ornament to someone who may be feeling a little sad this season.
- Make an ornament in the kitchen. (3 recipe options)
- Buy an ornament, or give one of yours as a gift.
Make an Ornament in the Kitchen
Below are three recipes for making an ornament. You could choose a salt dough, cornstarch, or cinnamon. You can use string, ribbon, yarn, twine, etc. to hang the ornaments.
Salt Dough Ornament:
You will need: 2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water
Cookie cutter
Drinking straw or pencil
Mix, roll out, and use a cookie cutter for the shape you want. Use a pencil eraser or drinking straw to cut a hole in top for string.
Bake at 175 degrees for 3 hours. Decorate if you wish!
Cornstarch Recipe:
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cups baking soda
3/4 cup water
Cookie cutter
Drinking straw or pencil
- Combine baking soda and cornstarch in a medium pot. Add water and mix well.
- Place the pot over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. When it reaches a “mashed potatoes consistency,” remove from heat.
- Form the dough into a ball and cover it with a damp cloth. Let it cool for 15 minutes.
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Use a drinking straw or pencil to poke a hole in the ornament for your string.
- Let ornaments dry for 24 hours, flipping them once.
- Can paint or leave matte white.
Cinnamon Dough:
2 cups flour
½ cup cinnamon
Salt
Water
Cookie Cutter
- Mix together dry ingredients until no clumps remain. Pour in warm water, and mix until well combined and a dough forms.
- Form dough into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface.
- Roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Use a pencil eraser or drinking straw to cut a hole in top for string.
- Air dry or bake.
- Air dry by placing on wax paper on a drying rack. It could take a couple of days for it to be completely hardened through.
- Bake: Place ornaments are parchment -lined baking sheet. Bake at 200 degrees F for 2 ½ hours.
- Decorate if you wish! Or leave them as is.
Advent Wreath Liturgy
Read: Matthew 1:18-25- Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Light the second candle, the candle of Peace.
Reflect: There are many names for Jesus, including Prince of Peace. Peace can mean many things: quiet, harmony, security, calm, serenity. The peace Jesus offers encompasses all those meanings. Jesus, by offering us the light of life, offers us a peace that cannot be put into words. Some call it the peace that passes understanding. It is a feeling of inner calm and security despite what is going on around us. Our faith keeps us strong and resolute. “Peace on earth, good will to all” is a common refrain in Christmas songs, to remind us that peace is gift. May you accept the peace that only God can give.
Pray: O Holy God, we pray for peace. Peace within ourselves, peace in our relationships, peace in our community, and peace around the world. Give us courage to be peacemakers, and help us choose compassion over fear. Amen.
Redheadedrev 