Dear Friends,
The Season of Advent begins in Western Christianity on Sunday, December 1st. Advent is a time for watching and waiting – for preparing one’s heart to birth Christ’s love into the world. Here are steps you can take now to make your Advent journey rich and meaningful:
1. Focus your December schedule.
2. Select an Advent Devotional/Book to read during the season.
3. Plan to attend the Advent Study Group.
4. Plan to attend Worship Services during Advent and Christmas
1. Focus that you schedule. Block out time each day for “watching and waiting.” This can include
meditation, quiet contemplation, reading, and waiting as a discipline of service (serving others – like
servers/waiters – do in restaurants). Build in non-stressful meaningful time with family and friends –
and with those who are lonely. Build in silence and time for awe and wonder – for mystery.
Consider using Advent Candles this year (you can make/buy a simple Advent Wreath or just arrange four
candles in a circle on the table where you eat your meals). There is an abundance of information online
regarding Advent Wreaths and candles. Studies on resilience show that ritual helps to support resilience
– start or continue an Advent ritual this year! Connect it with a meal where you sit down together to eat.
(Note: I have my Advent Candles on my dining table and light them with my evening meal – and then
read an Advent devotional/prayer at the end of the meal).
2. Select an Advent Devotional to assist you in your contemplative reflection. Reading a devotional can help to focus thoughts and prayers during the Advent Season. There are many different options.
The UCC Still Speaking Writers Group produced an Advent Devotional this year entitled The Mess in the Messiah. You can download the pdf through Pilgrim Press: https://www.thepilgrimpress.com, or pick up a printed copy from Pastor Kim up at the pulpit (they are in the box next to the pulpit – suggested donation is $ 5.00)
These are also good options for your Advent Reading: (all carried by Amazon and other booksellers):
• Light from Afar: An Advent Devotional from Around the World (excellent)
• Your Light Gives Us Hope by Anselm Grün (excellent)
• All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss (great for families and
nature lovers – and there is a new edition for young children)!
• The First Advent in Palestine, by Kelley Nikondeha (excellent, and challenging)
• Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent, by Richard Rohr (excellent)
• A Ukrainian Christmas, by Nadiyka Gerbish (a beautiful book written during the war that
describes Ukrainian Christmas customs)
• All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas, by Quinn G. Caldwell (excellent)• Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas, by Plough Publishing House (classic)
• Sleepers Awake: Getting Serious About Climate Change by Nicholas Holtam (timely)
• A Surprising God: Advent Devotions for an Uncertain Time, by Thomas G Long & Donyelle C McCray (timely)
• Light of the World: A Beginner’s Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine (nice introduction)
• Monastery Journey to Christmas, by Brother Victor-Antoine D’Avila-Latourrette (Beautiful)!
• An Advent Book of Days: Meeting the Characters of Christmas, by Gregory K. Cameron
• The Mood of Christmas & Other Celebrations, by Howard Thurman (love Howard Thurman)
• God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, edited by Greg Pennoyer & Gregory Wolfe
(very informative)
• Advent and Christmas: Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen, Redemptorist Publication (Great)
• The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Birth, by Marcus Borg and John
Dominic Crossan (excellent Bible Study)
• Light Upon Light: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany, edited by Sarah Arthur (great if you enjoy poetry and short stories)
• Celebrating Abundance: Devotions for Advent by Walter Brueggemann (excellent)
The following are excellent devotionals designed for the Twelve Days of Christmas (12.25-01.05)
• I Wonder As I Wander: The 12 Days of Christmas with Madeleine L’Engle by Bruce Epperly
• The Work of Christmas: The 12 Days of Christmas with Howard Thurman by Bruce Epperly
• Thin Places Everywhere: The 12 Days of Christmas with Celtic Christianity by Bruce Epperly
3. Plan to attend the Advent Study Group on Tuesdays at 1 pm via Zoom.
The book we will work with this year is The First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondeha:
(https://a.co/d/dA4wrlD). Here is our schedule:
11.26: Beginnings, Chapters 1 & 2
12.03: Chapters 3 & 4
12.10: Chapters 5 & 6
12.17: Chapters 7 & 8
Monday 12.23: Chapters 9 & 10 and Continuation
And here is the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86358174292?pwd=Zi9qdHNaRGFSYkhPdnIxR2F6ZW1xdz09
If you have any questions please speak with Pastor Kim (pastor@bethanyucc.org). If there are people
who work during the day that would like to participate in this study, I can look at scheduling an
additional evening class.
4. Plan to attend Worship during Advent/Christmas. Allow your heart to be opened and
enlarged by the beauty and wonder of the Advent Season. Here is a list of our plan for worship for this
special time: See Advent Schedule
If you want additional guidance on ways to observe Advent, please speak with Pastor Kim.
With love and prayers,
Kim
