INTRODUCTION Let us light candles By Donna Frischknecht Jackson, Editor of Presbyterians Today About this devotional photos of the “flames,” the little actions done by elcome to Presbyterians Today’s your hands — that are lighting your community Advent and Christmas devotional, with love. These pictures will be posted on Pres- W“Let Us Light Candles: Matthew 25 byterians Today’s social media sites — Facebook, and the work of Advent.” This extended online Twitter and Instagram. devotional — taking us not just through Advent It is my hope that by Epiphany, we have but through Christmastide and ending with many lights burning brightly. Why? Because Epiphany, Jan. 6 — brings to you the inspiring our world has been shrouded in the darkness words in Howard Thurman’s poem “I Will Light of racial and political unrest, and the cloud of Candles This Christmas.” pandemic uncertainties is still hovering low. But Thurman, a Baptist pastor, theologian and there is a light coming to us, one promised by civil rights activist, was born in 1899. The God. It is a light that John’s Gospel says “shines grandson of a former slave, Thurman was named in the darkness, and the darkness did not over- by Life magazine in 1953 as one of the 12 come it” (John 1:5). greatest preachers in the country. The pastor not It has been a powerful privilege to journey only co-founded San Francisco’s Church for the with Thurman as I wrote this devotional for Fellowship of All Peoples in 1944 — the first you. I now hope that you find your journey with interfaith and intercultural congregation in the Thurman this season just as powerful. Let us be- United States — but he also mentored a young gin these Advent and Christmas seasons lighting Martin Luther King Jr., who received his Ph.D. those candles Thurman envisioned — candles of in 1955 at Boston University, where Thurman joy, hope, courage, peace, grace and love. was serving as the first Black dean of Marsh Chapel. Thurman’s most well-known book, Social media participation “Jesus and the Disinherited,” published in 1949, Presbyterians Today wants to see your light shine illustrates the pastor’s theology. In it he ex- this holiday. Submit pictures of the candles you pounds on Jesus’ example of unconditional love are lighting (actual candles or how you are shin- and illustrates how that love not only helps the ing light in the world by living out the words of disinherited endure oppression, it also changes Matthew 25 to give water to those who thirst, the heart of oppressors. visit those in prison and clothe the naked). Nowhere better can Thurman’s belief in such Include your name, church and a brief descrip- a redemptive, transformative love be seen than tion of the picture. Send to Donna Frischknecht in his writings about the light that came into the Jackson at [email protected]. world at Christmastime. How to use the devotional Each week’s Advent and Christmas theme will be a stanza from Thurman’s poem, followed by a reading from Scripture, a short meditation and closing prayer. At the start of each week will be a reflection question in which I invite you to light a candle (or play the video of the candle provid- ed) and ponder more deeply that week’s theme. I also invite you throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas to submit pictures of the candles you are lighting — actual wax candles or 1 Presbyterians Today 2020 Advent & Christmas Devotional | Introduction I Will Light Candles This Christmas BY HOWARD THURMAN I will light candles this Christmas, Candles of joy despite all the sadness, Candles of hope where despair keeps watch, Candles of courage for fears ever present, Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days, Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens, Candles of love to inspire all my living, Candles that will burn all year long. Presbyterians Today 2020 Advent & Christmas Devotional | Introduction 2 WEEK 1 Candles of joy despite all the sadness e begin our Advent journey by them alone — Emmanuel, God with us, is lighting the first candle on the indeed with us. WAdvent wreath. As we watch its flame dance, think about the joy that Spend time this week reflecting on where Scripture speaks of: a joy that doesn’t mean you have experienced such joy. How did happiness. Rather consider the joy that it comfort you in seasons of sadness, grief comes to any heart that knows no matter or hopelessness? How can you share that what circumstances we face, we do not face understanding of joy with others? Day 1 | First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29 radiated joy. “There was always a gentle smile on Oil for our lamps her face, even when tears were flowing down her cheeks,” her great-granddaughter recalled. Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten As the stories about Beatrice continued bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet to be shared, I found myself wondering, “How the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and someone who had faced so much hardship could five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, be remembered as being so joyful?” Then an they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks elderly man came forward to the microphone of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was and began telling how Beatrice never let her delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But “lamp of joy burnout.” Rather, he said, Beatrice at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the kept it burning brightly with God’s promise bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those that she would never be left alone. Even in her bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The darkest moments, she made sure to have enough foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, “oil” on hand — enough trust in God — to get for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, her through the times of waiting for the divine ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; presence to arrive and chase away the shadows. you had better go to the dealers and buy some for I found my mind drifting back to the times yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the when I was not prepared with enough oil for bridegroom came, and those who were ready went my lamp, to how in my search for more oil — with him into the wedding banquet; and the door searching in places other than God’s Word — I was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, had missed God’s presence. Beatrice, though, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, stayed awake, ever watchful for joy to arrive. She ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake kept her lamp burning so brightly that even in therefore, for you know neither the day nor the death, her light continued to bless, comfort and hour. — Matthew 25:1–13 inspire others. Howard Thurman wrote, “There are those who Pray have in themselves the gift of joy. Wherever God of promises fulfilled, help me to be better pre- they go, they give birth to joy in others. To pared for your coming into this world once again. be touched by them is to be blessed by God.” May I remain vigilant to always have enough oil Beatrice had this gift of joy, and she shared it for my lamp. May you find me wide awake this generously throughout her 93 years on earth. Advent season, ready to greet you with great joy. In Her family spoke at her funeral of how in spite Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. of losing her father at an early age, in spite of be- ing sent to work grueling hours shucking oysters Go deeper at the age of 10, in spite of being widowed with Who have been the “Beatrices” in your life, and two children by 20, in spite of the unrelenting what have you learned from them? seasons of sadness in her life, Beatrice somehow 3 Presbyterians Today 2020 Advent & Christmas Devotional | Week 1 Day 2 | Monday, Nov. 30 to God’s whispers. Our ‘inner authority’ Those who have studied Howard Thurman’s writings describe him as having a “quiet faith,” One day, as he was teaching the people in the and they have noted that throughout his life he temple and telling the good news, the chief priests sought a deep commitment to silence. It was in and the scribes came with the elders and said to this silence that Thurman discovered what he him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing called the “inner authority” — that place in our these things? Who is it who gave you this author- hearts where we find the strength and purpose to ity?” He answered them, “I will also ask you a live the lives we are called to live and, by doing question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John so, possibly be able to make a difference in the come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” world. They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we The priests and scribes were always asking say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not Jesus who gave him the authority to turn the believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all world upside down and to challenge the status the people will stone us; for they are convinced that quo.