The chimes have begun to ring in the “new (church) year.” What do you hear?
Check out the Advent Calendar from Trinity Wall Street
Trinity (Episcopal) Wall Street has an online Advent Calendar for us. Every day features a short verse from scripture and an audio meditation from members of the church. Here is the link: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/news/features/2012-advent-calendar
An Advent Calendar with a more “youthful” flavor
Here is another kind of Advent Calendar with a younger audience in mind:
http://bustedhalo.com/features/advent-calendar-2012
It is produced by The Paulist Fathers (a Roman Catholic Religious Order). Their ministry has the intriguing title of “Busted Halo Ministries” because they believe that “all God’s children are ‘saints in the making.’ Everyone is called to aspire toward the holiness and selflessness of a Mother Teresa or Saint Francis. At the same time we are all too often aware that this journey toward sainthood is one fraught with imperfections, struggles, and mistakes. Each of us sports a Halo that is either dented, scratched, tarnished… in some way Busted. Yet God loves us anyway and continually calls to bang out the dents and polish our halos up to a nice golden shine.” About BustedHalo
Yes, give us grace …
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for the First Sunday of Advent
Book of Common Prayer, p. 211
“Black Friday” began the “Shopping Season” and retailers are relentless in keeping us focused on buying often and buying more. “#GivingTuesday” (11/27/12) was an invitation to give and use your “buying power” in a way that benefits others for more than just a day.
I intend to keep that invitation in front of us throughout the “Shopping Season.” I believe (and am acting on my belief) that It is always the right time to be generous. If you haven’t participated in “#GivingTuesday” how about today? ~dan
Today’s give-a-gift-to-help-others idea:
- Kiva — “a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.”
Looking for other give-a-gift-to-help-others ideas?
Go first to Charity Navigator for those ideas
and for an evaluation of how your dollars will be spent
Video: Advent in 2 minutes was produced by Busted Halo Ministries
Hear what the Spirit is saying 