Advent Archives » Mike Frost https://mikefrost.net/category/art-popular-culture/advent/ AUTHOR | SPEAKER | MISSIOLOGIST | AGITATOR Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:08:12 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 https://i0.wp.com/mikefrost.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/cropped-MF.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Advent Archives » Mike Frost https://mikefrost.net/category/art-popular-culture/advent/ 32 32 116298986 The Most Tender of all Advent Paintings https://mikefrost.net/the-most-tender-of-all-advent-paintings/ https://mikefrost.net/the-most-tender-of-all-advent-paintings/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:54:23 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=32241 Whenever I see Arthur Hacker’s 1892 painting, The Annunciation, I feel like I’m intruding on an intimate conversation. It’s a beautiful picture, private and evocative. The Virgin Mary is swathed in layers of soft, floating, light fabric, which has the effect of lending her multiple identities. She is a classical Greek statue, a priestess, and […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/the-most-tender-of-all-advent-paintings/feed/ 5 32241 ‘Midnight, Christians‘: the most radical Christmas song ever written https://mikefrost.net/midnight-christians-the-most-radical-christmas-song-ever-written/ https://mikefrost.net/midnight-christians-the-most-radical-christmas-song-ever-written/#comments Mon, 09 Dec 2019 20:33:10 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=29218 In my previous post I didn’t have many good things to say about the Christmas song, Mary Did You Know. So I thought I’d balance things out by reflecting on my favourite carol. O Holy Night was written in 1847 by two very unlikely songwriting partners. Placide Cappeau was an irreligious French wine merchant and […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/midnight-christians-the-most-radical-christmas-song-ever-written/feed/ 7 29218 Is this the least biblical, most sexist hymn ever written? https://mikefrost.net/is-this-the-least-biblical-most-sexist-hymn-ever-written/ https://mikefrost.net/is-this-the-least-biblical-most-sexist-hymn-ever-written/#comments Wed, 27 Nov 2019 19:56:52 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=29195 I’m sorry if you really like it, but I think Mary, Did You Know? is the least biblical, most sexist Christmas song ever written. Least biblical because if you reeled off the 17 patronizing questions contained in the lyrics of that song to the real Mary, she might have thrown a rock at you. The […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/is-this-the-least-biblical-most-sexist-hymn-ever-written/feed/ 69 29195 Four paintings for the four weeks of Advent https://mikefrost.net/four-paintings-for-the-four-weeks-of-advent/ https://mikefrost.net/four-paintings-for-the-four-weeks-of-advent/#comments Mon, 19 Nov 2018 11:16:31 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=28317 It will soon be Advent, the most beautiful of church seasons, celebrated over the four Sundays preceding Christmas. You might not be part of a liturgical church tradition, but marking each Sunday with a reading and the lighting of a candle can be a rich way to prepare yourself, your family, your congregation for the […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/four-paintings-for-the-four-weeks-of-advent/feed/ 10 28317 Advent Reflection 10: Yes, Jesus WAS a refugee https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-10-yes-jesus-refugee/ https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-10-yes-jesus-refugee/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2016 23:21:53 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=26481 The final entry in my series of reflections based on ten of the greatest Christmas artworks of all time. Merry Christmas to you all! 10 THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT   Artwork: Rest on the Flight to Egypt – Orazio Gentileschi, Birmingham Art Gallery Reading: Matthew 2:13-23 Reflection: This isn’t a very well known Christmas painting, […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-10-yes-jesus-refugee/feed/ 13 26481 Advent Reflection 9: How deep is your love? https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-9-deep-love/ https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-9-deep-love/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2016 00:17:08 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=26473 Ten of the greatest pieces of Christian art ever created. Ten Advent reflections. A bit like the ten stations of the Christmas story. Here’s No.9. 9.  THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI   Artwork:  Adoration of the Magi – Sandro Botticelli, Uffizi Gallery, Florence Reading:  Matthew 2:7-12 Reflection: Botticelli was commissioned to paint this astonishing work in 1475 […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-9-deep-love/feed/ 2 26473 Advent Reflection 8: Where is Jesus? https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-8-jesus/ https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-8-jesus/#respond Sun, 18 Dec 2016 20:01:32 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=26464 My Advent devotion series, based on the 10 greatest paintings of the Christmas story ever produced. Look carefully at the painting. Read the Bible text. Read the reflection. Recite the prayer. 8. THE MAGI SEARCH FOR THE CHRIST   Artwork: The Procession of the Magi – Benozzo Gozzoli, Medici Riccardi palace, Florence Reading: Matthew 2:1-10  […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-8-jesus/feed/ 0 26464 Advent Reflection 7: Outliers no longer https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-7-outliers-no-longer/ https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-7-outliers-no-longer/#respond Wed, 14 Dec 2016 23:15:32 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=26457 This is the seventh in a series of ten reflections looking at the Christmas story through the eyes of some of the greatest artists in history. 7.  THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS   Artwork: The Adoration of the Shepherds – Giorgione, National Gallery of Art, Washington Reading: Luke 2:15-20  Reflection: This is such a daring way […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-7-outliers-no-longer/feed/ 0 26457 Advent Reflection 6: Don’t be afraid of the light https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-6-dont-afraid-light/ https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-6-dont-afraid-light/#respond Tue, 13 Dec 2016 13:46:56 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=26448 From Bruegel and Botticelli to Fra Angelico and Giorgione, I’m writing a series of devotions based on the greatest Christmas art of all time. Each devotion includes a picture, a Bible reading, a reflection and a prayer. Take your time. Look deeply. Breathe. Relax. Be with God. 6 ANNUNCIATION TO THE SHEPHERDS   Artwork:  Annunciation […]

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]]> https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-6-dont-afraid-light/feed/ 0 26448 Advent Reflection 5: That radiant place between worship and intimacy https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-5-radiant-place-worship-intimacy/ https://mikefrost.net/advent-reflection-5-radiant-place-worship-intimacy/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2016 20:25:52 +0000 https://mikefrost.net/?p=26440 This Advent, I’m writing a series of devotions, based on ten of the most beautiful paintings of the Christmas story ever created. Take some time to look carefully at the painting above. Read the Bible text. Read the reflection. Recite the prayer. 5.  THE BIRTH OF CHRIST   Artwork:  The Nativity – Federico Barocci, Prado […]

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