what's happening The season of advent
|
Christmas Cantata TBA Blue Christmas worship service. TBA Christmas Eve. service TBA |
Advent is the season of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ, and it takes place the four Sundays before Christmas. On the first Sunday of Advent (Dec. 1) we light one candle, on the second Sunday (Dec. 8) we light two, on the third (Dec. 15) three, and on the fourth (Dec. 22) four. On Christmas Eve we light all four Advent candles plus a fifth "Christ Candle". The candles represent Jesus, the light of the world, coming into the world. Dec. 25, Christmas Day We celebrate the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. Hallelujah! |
shopping suggestions for christmas
* Support
a local charity * Write a letter * Make a meal for a shut-in (and eat it with them!) *
* Give gift certificates of your time that the recipient can exchange for time with you later * Make a gift *
* Sponsor lessons (music, sports, art) for a family member * Sponsor a child through Compassion International ® *
* Teach a skill or a hobby of yours * Go bowling * Record a family story * Purchase Bibles in honor of a loved one *
* Volunteer at a local social service agency (like Hire Attire in Huntington, which also does after-school tutoring) *
* Anonymously provide a meal for a family in need * Support a local food bank *
* Visit the hospital, Veteran's Home, or retirement home and sing carols, read, play cards, or paint fingernails *
And consider these internet resources for alternative Christmas celebrations:
www.ANewBeginningCPC.com (local crisis pregnancy services ministry)
www.AdventConspiracy.org www.Compassion.com (child sponsorship)
www.BuyNothingChristmas.org www.Gideons.org (for Bibles)
www.Heifer.org (Heifer Project International) www.UMCOR.org
www.RevBilly.com (The Church of Life After Shopping) www.water.org
www.TenThousandVillages.org (support small local crafters around the world)
May your witness be pleasing to God (Jesus is the reason for the season!)
and inspiring to others!
* Give gift certificates of your time that the recipient can exchange for time with you later * Make a gift *
* Sponsor lessons (music, sports, art) for a family member * Sponsor a child through Compassion International ® *
* Teach a skill or a hobby of yours * Go bowling * Record a family story * Purchase Bibles in honor of a loved one *
* Volunteer at a local social service agency (like Hire Attire in Huntington, which also does after-school tutoring) *
* Anonymously provide a meal for a family in need * Support a local food bank *
* Visit the hospital, Veteran's Home, or retirement home and sing carols, read, play cards, or paint fingernails *
And consider these internet resources for alternative Christmas celebrations:
www.ANewBeginningCPC.com (local crisis pregnancy services ministry)
www.AdventConspiracy.org www.Compassion.com (child sponsorship)
www.BuyNothingChristmas.org www.Gideons.org (for Bibles)
www.Heifer.org (Heifer Project International) www.UMCOR.org
www.RevBilly.com (The Church of Life After Shopping) www.water.org
www.TenThousandVillages.org (support small local crafters around the world)
May your witness be pleasing to God (Jesus is the reason for the season!)
and inspiring to others!
