In preparation for Advent
Hi *|FNAME|*
I just thought I would take this opportunity before we get into today’s blog to update you on a few things for this blog:
Firstly, a number of you have contacted me to say that you just can’t keep up with the amount of content that has been produced in the blog. As a result, instead of producing content every Tuesday and Thursday, I (or Mony or Saray) will post every 5 days. This means you will still get posts slightly more than once a week, but hopefully it will allow you to engage in some deeper reflection time too :)
Secondly, for those of you, who are enjoying more frequent communication, there is always our blog club. The sign up for our next book club can be found here - we begin this evening, looking at Tim Costello’s book “A lot with a Little”
Thirdly, the blog is not the only way to engage with The Walk Humbly Initiative. Keep an eye out for some new content including prayers and reflective questions coming soon on our social media sites.
Thank you for journeying with me this far, and I look forward to continuing to dig deeper into these issues with you.
And now to today's AMA response
Can you point me in the direction of some advent resources?
For those of us who follow the church calendar, this coming Sunday marks the start of Advent - the time of preparation for Jesus’ coming. This is a reminder of when God came as a human baby at Jesus’ first coming and also a reminder of the promise that Jesus will come again to make everything right.
For those of us who are seeking to bring a bit more reflection into the crazy Christmas period, here are 3 different advent resources that use 3 different formats from 3 different agencies that are involved in development work or Christian advocacy work from here in Australia.
Common Grace has daily emails to your inbox focusing on a new day
Common Grace is a Christian advocacy group based in Australia whose main focus is on indigenous issues, domestic violence, refugees and climate change. They introduce their daily email and video study this way:
“For many of us in these lands now called Australia, entering into Advent 2021 perhaps feels like 2020 on repeat. With another year of a global pandemic, for some of us each day has been a blur of going to bed each night and getting up each morning. Each day the sun rises and the sun sets.
This Advent, we step into a new day with the expectant hope of the birth of Jesus. We step into a new day where we are reminded of our God who does not ignore cries for justice. We step into a new day with God who is restoring relationships and renewing creation. Our God, who came into this earthly world, in the most unlikely and unexpected way, who so loved the world that God gave God’s only Son. This is our New Day each and every day.
Together may we find the new way of Jesus, for ourselves, our families, our communities, our nation, and our world.”
You can sign up for this one here:
https://www.commongrace.org.au/advent_a_new_day
2. TEARfund Australia has created a weekly series of reflections based on the theme of peace
We have spoken about TEARfund before - a Christian community development agency doing work in a number of countries close to my heart. In their introduction for this series:
“A beautiful 5-part collection of short reflections, bible verses and activities from TEAR staff, partners and friends. Explore the concept of peace at Christmas – in our communities, our hearts and our world.”
And as an edxtra bonus one of the weeks is written by our very own Mony.
https://www.tearfund.org.au/resources/advent-devotional-peace-on-earth
3. The Anglican board of Missions - Songs from a Strange Land
A few years ago, ABM released this app which is a daily guide and reflection from the 1st December all the way through to Epiphany - Jan 6. The theme of this study is understanding how Christian Indigenous theology and connection with Creation.
The writer, Celia Kemp states:
“This Advent, consider a pilgrimage to where you already are.
Set aside time each day from December 1 through to January 6; the Feast of the Epiphany, which marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas.
Find a quiet place close by with some sort of nature component (a pot plant, a tree, a park bench, a beach, a back yard). If you can, place yourself where the sky meets the land.
Take a bible, a journal, a pen and this book.
Read. Watch. Listen. Stay awake. And see what happens.”
https://www.abmission.org/resources.php/187/songs-from-a-strange-land-an-australian-advent-calendar
And a bonus:
On November 25 each year the world remembers the International day for the Elimination of violence against women. The 16 days between that date and International Human Rights day are often known as the Days of Activism. This year Churches Beyond Borders, have written 16 days of devotions for the days of Activism for the end of gender-based violence. Churches Beyond Borders are a coalition of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church of
Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and The Episcopal Church.
from the US/ They state:
“Since Advent coincides with the campaign, the Magnificat is chosen as our guiding
text, offering prayer and reflection alongside the call for awareness and action. The
devotions give thanks for the strong and enduring voice of Mary as she says “yes”
to the angel’s annunciation and as she greets her sister Elizabeth (Luke 1:38-55).
Each writer has been deeply involved in this work, addressing the issues of missing
and murdered Indigenous women, trafficking, women at the borders, and domestic
violence. Their reflections on Mary’s word offer hope and invite our shared work and
witness across all borders against gender-based violence.
I hope that at least one of these resources appeals to you and that this coming Advent season can be one of hope and deeper meaning to you. Let me know if you do one of them and what stands out to you.
Stacie
