And a new year in the church life begins this week as we enter Advent. Advent is a solemn season, but not a somber season. It is a time of waiting and preparing, a time to reflect and ponder anew the blessings of our lives and our God. Take this time to remember that you are God's beloved, and in the midst of holiday frenzy, take a moment each day to breathe deep and feel that love surrounding you. Here are some resources for your Advent season.
D365.org
These devotions are written by ministers, professors, students, teachers, missionaries, denominational leaders, and others who work with and care for students. In these devotions, you will read honest struggles and questions, all in the context of real faith. As you read the thoughts of the writers, think about your own response to the Scripture for the day. Let the writer’s words serve as background for your own conversation with God. D365 will highlight the season of Advent with the theme, “Following the Star.” D365.org is a joint partnership of The Episcopal Church Office for Youth Ministries, Presbyterian Youth and Triennium Office and Ministries of the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Congregational Life Office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Available in English and Spanish. D365.org
AdventWord
Forward Movement convenes another year of AdventWord, an inspirational online Advent calendar featuring a daily prompt word selected from the Sunday lectionary readings. Email subscribers and social media followers receive a daily meditation and visual image inspired by the day’s word, and are invited to share their own personal reflections, art, poetry, or other creative expression. Downloadable bulletin inserts are available for churches to encourage participation at home. Learn more at adventword.org.
Printable Letter to Santa
If you’re looking for a way to help a child you love think about their Christmas list differently, then we’ve got a free printable for you! This one-page letter offers fill-in-the-blank areas. One way to show Santa how nice you’ve been this year is to tell him what you’re grateful for! Next, there are categories for gifts the child might like. (We love that it asks them to think about something to share…this can be a gift they donate or something they can share with a relative or neighbor.) https://unitedthankoffering.com/christmas/
D365.org
These devotions are written by ministers, professors, students, teachers, missionaries, denominational leaders, and others who work with and care for students. In these devotions, you will read honest struggles and questions, all in the context of real faith. As you read the thoughts of the writers, think about your own response to the Scripture for the day. Let the writer’s words serve as background for your own conversation with God. D365 will highlight the season of Advent with the theme, “Following the Star.” D365.org is a joint partnership of The Episcopal Church Office for Youth Ministries, Presbyterian Youth and Triennium Office and Ministries of the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Congregational Life Office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Available in English and Spanish. D365.org
AdventWord
Forward Movement convenes another year of AdventWord, an inspirational online Advent calendar featuring a daily prompt word selected from the Sunday lectionary readings. Email subscribers and social media followers receive a daily meditation and visual image inspired by the day’s word, and are invited to share their own personal reflections, art, poetry, or other creative expression. Downloadable bulletin inserts are available for churches to encourage participation at home. Learn more at adventword.org.
Printable Letter to Santa
If you’re looking for a way to help a child you love think about their Christmas list differently, then we’ve got a free printable for you! This one-page letter offers fill-in-the-blank areas. One way to show Santa how nice you’ve been this year is to tell him what you’re grateful for! Next, there are categories for gifts the child might like. (We love that it asks them to think about something to share…this can be a gift they donate or something they can share with a relative or neighbor.) https://unitedthankoffering.com/christmas/