December Chimes
December 2024
Dear Siblings in Christ,
It’s hard to believe, but Advent is almost upon us once again! This year, the season of Advent begins on Sunday, December 1. (For once, those mass-produced Advent calendars have their dates right!)
Advent has always been a cherished time of the year for me. As a child, I was giddy with anticipation for Christmas—the candles, the songs, the growing excitement that Advent promised. And now, as an adult, I find that I still love this season, though for slightly different reasons.
In the midst of a world that rushes toward Christmas with an almost dizzying pace, Advent offers something rare: an opportunity to slow down, to wait, to anticipate with hope. Even now, my calendar outside of church is packed—planning parties, buying presents, managing school events—and we haven’t even reached Thanksgiving! I imagine this is a familiar feeling for many of you.
Advent, however, invites us into something countercultural. It calls us to step away from the busyness and to embrace stillness. It teaches us to wait, to hope, and to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming—not just on Christmas Day, but in every moment of our lives.
This year, we’re excited to share special resources from Illustrated Ministries to guide you through this season: an Advent calendar and a devotional designed to help you pause, reflect, and reconnect amidst the holiday rush.
The devotional includes weekly reflections and discussion questions to deepen your experience of the season. The Advent calendar features 24 prompts—each one a small invitation to notice God’s presence in your life and the world around you.
The theme of these resources is “From the Manger.” When Jesus was born, he was laid in a simple manger—a feeding trough—in Bethlehem, a name that means “house of bread.” This theme invites us to reflect on how Jesus, born in a place associated with nourishment, continues to feed our hungry world with hope, peace, joy, and love.
You can pick up your devotional and Advent calendar at church beginning Sunday, December 1, the first Sunday of Advent.
We hope these materials will enrich your Advent journey, offering you moments of peace, reflection, and renewal as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Blessings to you this Advent season,
Pastor Laura