Our theme this Advent season is “Insisting on Hope This Advent.” We’re using materials produced by the gifted folks at A Sanctified Art to supplement and shape our community moments together and individual times of reflection and prayer.
During the four weeks of Advent you can nurture your spirituality through
A Daily Online Devotional
Created by the folks of A Sanctified Art, it includes daily readings, art to ponder and music to reflect through. CLICK HERE to access the e-book devotional.
Community Bible Study
Join us weekly on Wednesday Nights at 7pm on Zoom for reflection and discussion around the scripture readings for the week.
Advent Week 1 - Lamentations 3:55-57 & Luke 1:5-13 [PDF STUDY GUIDE]
Advent Week 2 - Isaiah 43:19-21 & Matthew 11:1-11 [PDF STUDY GUIDE]
Advent Week 3 - Luke 1:26-39 & Jeremiah 1:4-10 [PDF STUDY GUIDE]
Advent Week 4 - Matthew 1:18-25 & Isaiah 41:5-10 [PDF STUDY GUIDE]
Book Club Discussion Groups
12/6 after church - Discussing an Article in the Guardian on the Christianity We Know and See.
We’re gathering to discuss how Jesus has been turned from a figure of love into a figure of hate who blesses precisely the cruel-ties that he condemned in the Gospel; we went from “the meek shall inherit the Earth” to “the meek shall die of cholera.” You can access the essay “They’re doing to America what they did to Christianity” in the Guardian by Bill McKibben online with this LINK.
Journey Groups - Developing Spiritual Resilience
We will be offering small groups to accompa-ny you in spiritual disciplines to practice this Advent Season:
1. Simplicity - Saying YES and saying NO [PRACTICE GUIDE PDF]
and 2) learn the daily examen prayer. [PRACTICE GUIDE PDF]
Starts with the Soup Dinner on 12/2 at 6pm at the church. Come for a light dinner and introduction to the spiritual practices we’ll be undertaking individually and communally throughout the season.
CHRISTMAS EVE HYBRID CELEBRATION
wednesday, 12/24 @ 7:00PM
candles - carols - impromptu Christmas pageant -
choir & chocolate in an informal, participatory and kid-inclusive setting.
We’re doing our Christmas Even Candlelight Gathering both in-person and online via Zoom. If you join us in person we will ask you to wear a face mask for the entirety of the service. If you need one we’ll have plenty for you. Our service will last for 50 minutes and include a candelight singing of “Silent Night” as we retell the story of the birth of Jesus into a world threatened with despair, denial and homesickness.
WINTER SOLSTICE LABYRINTH WALK
SUNDAY, 12/21 @ 7:00PM
In our hemisphere December 21st is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year (or the longest night)…it’s the point at which the daylight hours begin to grow again. It’s this metaphorical experience of the light turning the tables on the darkness of winter that is in large part the reason that the early Church moved the celebration of the birth of Jesus (Christmas) to December. Come celebrate this auspicious day/night with us with a labyrinth walk that will invite you to meditate upon the light and the darkness in your own life and our world as the seasons change and we as Christians celebrate Jesus a the Light of the World.
We’ll begin at sunset and continue this outside opportunity for active prayer and reflection for about an hour. We’ll ask that you wear a face mask, and provide them if you need one.
If it rains we will move this event inside to our sanctuary.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21th @ 10:30AM
Come join us in your favorite Christmas Sweater - or any sweater! - as we celebrate this last Sunday before Christmas. You’re also invited to bring 1-2 dozen of your favorite Christmas Cookies to add to our Christmas Cookie Buffet Bonanza for the party after church!