December 1
Angel Filled Advent
Make a list of some of the angels in your life. Say a prayer of thanksgiving that they are a part of your life, not only during Advent but throughout the year.
Advent is seen as a time of preparing for the birth of Jesus and all that entails – a light in the darkness, hope for the hopeless, peace in a world that seems to know anything but that, and love for everyone. Somehow, we have turned it into perhaps the busiest month of the year, when we are simply going from one task to another and often not thinking about the why we are doing anything.
The object of any Advent book is to have the reader take a few minutes out of each day and pause, reflect and think about the whys. This Advent booklet is not limited to one topic. Each week, there is a message from our pastor, Greg Watling; there is a lighting of an Advent candle, and then poems and prose about various aspects of Advent. Hopefully, you can carry the reflection throughout the day.
Please feel free to share this booklet with any of your family and friends.
Make a list of some of the angels in your life. Say a prayer of thanksgiving that they are a part of your life, not only during Advent but throughout the year.
Do we often wait for the perfect time to do something and in that practice miss out on being an advocate for someone or something or miss out on an opportunity? Think of a time when that has been true in your life and is there something you are waiting to do that could be done now?
Poem by Anne Weems, Kneeling in Bethlehem, 1993
Remember the anticipation of Christmas coming? As a child we may have been going somewhere to celebrate and as we sang "Over the river and through the woods..." we kept asking, "Are we there, yet?" Or, we may have asked "Is it here yet?" every morning in December as we waited for Christmas Day to finally arrive? Do you still feel that excitement or has that been replaced with the dread of an endless to-do list. Try to just sit for a minute and recall that glorious feeling of the excitement of a child. Is it any wonder that Jesus sought out children and their openness, acceptance and excitement?
Remember the anticipation of Christmas coming? As a child we may have been going somewhere to celebrate and as we sang "Over the river and through the woods..." we kept asking, "Are we there, yet?" Or, we may have asked "Is it here yet?" every morning in December as we waited for Christmas Day to finally arrive? Do you still feel that excitement or has that been replaced with the dread of an endless to-do list. Try to just sit for a minute and recall that glorious feeling of the excitement of a child. Is it any wonder that Jesus sought out children and their openness, acceptance and excitement?
Do you have a gift that you received that whenever you happen to see it, you remember who gave it to you and the reason. Such a special reminder of a friend or family member. For parents, sometimes it is the card drawn with such care with a crayon by our child(ren). Take a moment to recall of some of those gifts that you received or that you gave.
Remember the anticipation of Christmas coming? As a child we may have been going somewhere to celebrate and as we sang "Over the river and through the woods..." we kept asking, "Are we there, yet?" Or, we may have asking that question every morning in December as we waited for Christmas Day to finally arrive? Do you still feel that excitement or has that been replaced with the dread of an endless to-do list. Try to just sit for a minute and recall that glorious feeling of the excitement of a child. Is it any wonder that Jesus sought out children and their openness, acceptance and excitement?
This poem speaks for itself. Just take sometime to perhaps read it more than once.
Do you really believe - "with God, all things are possible?"
Christmas in the Heart: Advent devotional readings based on Charles Dickens’ classic: A Christmas Carol by Michael Armstrong Hall; Page 10
A Moment of Christmas: 25 December Devotions for Moms by Anna Rendell; Anna E. Rendell Inc. (November 13, 2019)
Page 3
Kneeling in Bethlehem by Ann Weems, Westminster John Knox Pr; ge
Pages 1, 8, 15, 22
Miracle on 31st Street: Christmas Cheer Every Day of the Year--Grinch to Gratitude in 26 Days! Susan Sparks (April 22, 2020) Page 22
It’s a Wonderful Life by David McLaughlan, Value Books (September 1, 2013)
Page 17
Tiny Poems and Engage Advent Family Creative Journal from www.engageworship.com: Page 13, 14, 20
Advent Candle Reflections by Fay Rowland www.reflectionary.org
: Pages 5, 12, 19
