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A review by bickleyhouse
Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, when I ordered it. I can't remember exactly why I ordered it, but I think it was because of some quotes from it were referenced in another book that I read. I also really enjoyed Ms. Rutledge's book on Epiphany from The Fullness of Time Series.
It turns out that this book is a series of essays and sermons that were preached by Fleming Rutledge, during or around Advent over a course of years, at various churches and occasions. I read the book exactly how we are advised NOT to read it, in the forward, from cover to cover. Because of that, I encountered (as she warns) a lot of repetition, throughout the book. But I didn't mind that, and it obviously did not affect my opinion of the book.
I like how the book is arranged. It begins with the essays, and moves on to the sermons, progressing from the weeks prior to Advent, up until the fourth Sunday of Advent. As Ms. Rutledge is Episcopalian, I learned a few more things about Advent that I had not already known. In the Episcopalian Church (and I believe my Lutheran Church is pretty much the same), they do not even put up Christmas decorations until after the last Sunday of Advent. Christmas songs are not sung until Christmas Eve. Now, in my church, we continue to sing Christmas songs into January, at least until Epiphany, and maybe longer.
She also believes that Advent should be seven weeks, rather than four, and that it begins the day after All Hallows, which is November 1. That was a new perspective for me.
And, as noted in the subtitle, Advent, from Fleming Rutledge's perspective is more about the second coming of Christ than the first. Over and over again, it is stated that we, the Church, live in a perpetual state of Advent, as we are always awaiting the second coming of Christ. She refers to it, at times, as "the in-between," and W.H. Auden, whom she quotes frequently, refers to it as "The Time Being." We are in a perpetual state of waiting, and that is what Advent is about.
She also quotes T.S. Eliot quite a bit in these sermons, and C.S. Lewis, as well. There are times where there is even a bit of political leaning in the messages, and I don't mind that, at least in the context of these messages. It is only in reference to how we should react to events in the world, and she cites plenty of those as she finds Advent in daily headlines in the news.
This is an excellent volume, and I will definitely keep it on my shelf for future reference. I will not, however, ever read it from cover to cover again. It will be primarily to pick up and read a sermon, here and there, especially during each Advent season. And the sermons are seldom more than four pages long.
It turns out that this book is a series of essays and sermons that were preached by Fleming Rutledge, during or around Advent over a course of years, at various churches and occasions. I read the book exactly how we are advised NOT to read it, in the forward, from cover to cover. Because of that, I encountered (as she warns) a lot of repetition, throughout the book. But I didn't mind that, and it obviously did not affect my opinion of the book.
I like how the book is arranged. It begins with the essays, and moves on to the sermons, progressing from the weeks prior to Advent, up until the fourth Sunday of Advent. As Ms. Rutledge is Episcopalian, I learned a few more things about Advent that I had not already known. In the Episcopalian Church (and I believe my Lutheran Church is pretty much the same), they do not even put up Christmas decorations until after the last Sunday of Advent. Christmas songs are not sung until Christmas Eve. Now, in my church, we continue to sing Christmas songs into January, at least until Epiphany, and maybe longer.
She also believes that Advent should be seven weeks, rather than four, and that it begins the day after All Hallows, which is November 1. That was a new perspective for me.
And, as noted in the subtitle, Advent, from Fleming Rutledge's perspective is more about the second coming of Christ than the first. Over and over again, it is stated that we, the Church, live in a perpetual state of Advent, as we are always awaiting the second coming of Christ. She refers to it, at times, as "the in-between," and W.H. Auden, whom she quotes frequently, refers to it as "The Time Being." We are in a perpetual state of waiting, and that is what Advent is about.
She also quotes T.S. Eliot quite a bit in these sermons, and C.S. Lewis, as well. There are times where there is even a bit of political leaning in the messages, and I don't mind that, at least in the context of these messages. It is only in reference to how we should react to events in the world, and she cites plenty of those as she finds Advent in daily headlines in the news.
This is an excellent volume, and I will definitely keep it on my shelf for future reference. I will not, however, ever read it from cover to cover again. It will be primarily to pick up and read a sermon, here and there, especially during each Advent season. And the sermons are seldom more than four pages long.