My Grandchildren ask me about the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" so I told them I would find out when that is.
Sometimes we are so caught up in traditions and rituals that we don't really know what we are celebrating or why. Pastor Arthur and I discovered this when we began teaching the Advent. You see the first time we were involved in the lighting of the Advent Candle at church we did not know what it was. After I completed the research on the history and symbolism we began teaching and lighting it in our church services in the nursing and assisted living facilities, there we discovered many folks had lit the candle in their churches all their lives did not know the history or symbolism and were grateful that we explained it.
The following is a result of my research of The Twelve Days of Christmas:
Religious Symbolism of the Twelve Days of Christmas
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Epiphany is the climax of Advent/Christmas Season. The first day of Christmas is Christmas Day and the Twelfth day is January 5, the Eve of Epiphany. Or in some beliefs the eve of Christmas Day December 25, to the morning of Epiphany, January 6. The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." In Western churches, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King.
Epiphany or Three Kings Day is the celebration of the arrival of the Magi to the baby Jesus. The festivities include the baking of a special King’s Cake which is also celebrated during Mardi Graus. The one or two Sundays during Epiphany are known as Christmas Tide. There are also longer versions of the tradition, some celebrate Epiphany from January 6 until Ash Wednesday the first day f Lent and still others until the Transfiguration Sunday.
However some Christians believe that there were more than three magi, not kings, who presented three gifts that were named in scripture. Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. This verse indicates they arrived to a young child at Mary’s side, not an infant. King Herrod ordered all boys two years old and under killed, Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, , 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Therefore, it appears that at the time they fled to Egypt Jesus was standing and perhaps walking.
Resources
http://www.cresourcei.org/cyepiph.html
www.biblegateway.com
As always make sure to read and study on your own, open to what God has for your knowledge in order to draw closer to Him through faith.
Happy New Year everyone, make this a year of singing a new song and starting new family traditions. Advent 2010 was the first time my grandchildren learned what advent is, nightly bible readings, and experiencing the true meaning. We read about the birthday of Jesus before opening gifts that we receive because of the greatest gift ever given to us by our Heavenly Father.
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Spirtual Needs of God's Older Children
One of the most important aspects in answering God’s call to our ministry of Grey Hair Is Beauty is the command, “go and remind My older children that I love them.”
We know the promises of the scriptures, we know the words to the Ethel Waters moving performance of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and yet there are so many times in our lives that God seems to be so far away. So we often get into our cars and drive to church for fellowship, invite Christian friends over, or call someone for prayer request.
In the every day lives of an elderly or disabled person there is little opportunity for uplifting spiritual renewal. Dim eyes, can no longer read the Bible or the Devotional of choice and muffled hearing can no longer detect musical notes and certain sounds. Sadly many residents live in Long Term Care Facilities that not only do not provide opportunities for connection to God, but are not aware of the spiritual needs of their residents. This opportunity would usually be scheduled on the facilities activities calendar.
While there may be resources made available for vision and hearing impaired such as Large and Giant Print books, Bibles, and literature; as well as, audio books for the vision impaired who can hear; there remain few opportunities for attending a traditional church service. These resources would need to be requested by the resident. Family, or responsible party; so the need would go unnoticed if the person suffers from dementia of various forms or the person(s) responsible is not actively involved in the life of the resident.
It has been my experience over the years of working in facilities that our Catholic brothers and sisters come regularly and administer communion to the residents of the Catholic faith as well as other rites and rituals that are required, while the residents of other faiths look on longingly. Usually, admission forms ask for the religion of the resident and this may or may not be filled in but it usually is only addressed upon terminal or imminent death. I should also point out here that the rules and regulations put in place by the government make it difficult for this information to be shared without the involvement of the family or legal guardian.
Studies have been done and documented in Nursing Manuals of the effects spirituality and it’s necessity for healing and recovery. In school nurses are taught to assess the whole person in developing the plan of care. "Spirituality can be the intangible quality that gives meaning to our lives, gives us the strength and purpose to live our life to the full.
Main Category: (Seniors / Aging,Article Date: 13 Apr 2006 - 5:00 PDT Contact: Paul Grocottp (.grocott@uws.edu.au) Research Australia
I can offer many testimonies from the last 5 years but the one that stands out for this discussion was early in our ministry when I went to a nursing home and set up a Service with an Advent Wreath in the activities room for about eighteen residents. As I carefully explained the meaning and purpose of the Advent Wreath and the story of this celebrated season a man in a wheel chair was making his way to where I was standing. He had on a lap robe, his catheter bag attached to the wheelchair, he badly needed a shave and hair was disheveled but what I noticed first was the tears running down his cheeks. He rolled up close to the wreath and looked at me with that sorrowful face and said, “I am a Pastor, thank you for bringing it all back to me today. I Pastored two churches and have not heard this story in a very long time.” You also helped me remember how Jesus got to Paul on the road to Damascus. Tearing up, I could hardly conclude the service.
God’s older children who live in facilities must be ministered too. The facilities must consider their residents spirituality as an integral part of their care. The administration and medical staff must be taught that freedom of religion is not just a constitutional right the right to practice their beliefs. The residents must be given the opportunity and resources within the guidelines of the rules and regulations to act on their faith.
Pray with us as God leads this ministry to bring the word to the lost or lonely elderly and disabled in Long Term Care Facilities.
Pastor Judi Baxter
Vice President Grey Hair Is Beauty
We know the promises of the scriptures, we know the words to the Ethel Waters moving performance of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and yet there are so many times in our lives that God seems to be so far away. So we often get into our cars and drive to church for fellowship, invite Christian friends over, or call someone for prayer request.
In the every day lives of an elderly or disabled person there is little opportunity for uplifting spiritual renewal. Dim eyes, can no longer read the Bible or the Devotional of choice and muffled hearing can no longer detect musical notes and certain sounds. Sadly many residents live in Long Term Care Facilities that not only do not provide opportunities for connection to God, but are not aware of the spiritual needs of their residents. This opportunity would usually be scheduled on the facilities activities calendar.
While there may be resources made available for vision and hearing impaired such as Large and Giant Print books, Bibles, and literature; as well as, audio books for the vision impaired who can hear; there remain few opportunities for attending a traditional church service. These resources would need to be requested by the resident. Family, or responsible party; so the need would go unnoticed if the person suffers from dementia of various forms or the person(s) responsible is not actively involved in the life of the resident.
It has been my experience over the years of working in facilities that our Catholic brothers and sisters come regularly and administer communion to the residents of the Catholic faith as well as other rites and rituals that are required, while the residents of other faiths look on longingly. Usually, admission forms ask for the religion of the resident and this may or may not be filled in but it usually is only addressed upon terminal or imminent death. I should also point out here that the rules and regulations put in place by the government make it difficult for this information to be shared without the involvement of the family or legal guardian.
Studies have been done and documented in Nursing Manuals of the effects spirituality and it’s necessity for healing and recovery. In school nurses are taught to assess the whole person in developing the plan of care. "Spirituality can be the intangible quality that gives meaning to our lives, gives us the strength and purpose to live our life to the full.
Main Category: (Seniors / Aging,Article Date: 13 Apr 2006 - 5:00 PDT Contact: Paul Grocottp (.grocott@uws.edu.au) Research Australia
I can offer many testimonies from the last 5 years but the one that stands out for this discussion was early in our ministry when I went to a nursing home and set up a Service with an Advent Wreath in the activities room for about eighteen residents. As I carefully explained the meaning and purpose of the Advent Wreath and the story of this celebrated season a man in a wheel chair was making his way to where I was standing. He had on a lap robe, his catheter bag attached to the wheelchair, he badly needed a shave and hair was disheveled but what I noticed first was the tears running down his cheeks. He rolled up close to the wreath and looked at me with that sorrowful face and said, “I am a Pastor, thank you for bringing it all back to me today. I Pastored two churches and have not heard this story in a very long time.” You also helped me remember how Jesus got to Paul on the road to Damascus. Tearing up, I could hardly conclude the service.
God’s older children who live in facilities must be ministered too. The facilities must consider their residents spirituality as an integral part of their care. The administration and medical staff must be taught that freedom of religion is not just a constitutional right the right to practice their beliefs. The residents must be given the opportunity and resources within the guidelines of the rules and regulations to act on their faith.
Pray with us as God leads this ministry to bring the word to the lost or lonely elderly and disabled in Long Term Care Facilities.
Pastor Judi Baxter
Vice President Grey Hair Is Beauty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)