The words of Goo Goo Dolls “Better Days” feel particularly poignant this week; Black Friday shopping predictably lead into Giving Tuesday appeals all while the atrocities of war continue to unfold around us. And even though my heart is breaking, I follow along and do my part searching for just even “a chance that maybe we’ll find better days.”
Afterall this is the promise and hope of Advent, through and with Christ better days are coming. We wait with our sorrow, but also with our anticipation and hope at the end, for a new beginning with Christ. I know it sounds a bit like a Marvel plot line, where we anticipate the one burdened with glorious purpose. But all of these stories captivate us because they speak to a larger aspiration of hope, love, friendship, and that very human need within each of us to strive towards something better, a world where all of creation can thrive. Better days, indeed. I can’t hardly wait.
So as we prepare to wait, watch and work towards these better days together this advent, Advent Unwrapped is here for you.
Every week from now until Christmas, I will be checking in and sharing a round-up of resources to help us all engage with the reason for the season. Remember sharing means caring! If this email has been forwarded to you by a loving friend, family member or neighbour please sign-up for the newsletter. You may also want to join our Facebook page, where you can share links to resources, ideas and inspirations that have inspired you.
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About to Drop (and it’s hot): |
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New music videos are coming before Advent 1, including several beloved Christmas hymns in American Sign Language!
Our Advent Guide is coming! A handy newsletter to share with friends, print out and photocopy, or keep on your desktop this advent.
Mark your calendars for the November 28 webinar conversation at 7:00 p.m. EST on Copyright Justice and Musical Misappropriation with folks from the Then Let Us Sing! development committee.
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Black Friday, Giving Tuesday, Bah humbug! Do you agree with Scrooge from Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, when he states Christmas is “a poor excuse for picking [our] pockets?” Or is Scrooge’s quote being misinterpreted by folks like me who are trying to buy less? Read more about Scrooge’s relationship with consumerism, business and Christmas in our latest Advent Unwrapped blog by Stephen Milton, Why Did Scrooge Hate Christmas?
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Shanna Bernier and Tori Mullin of Jesus, Glue and Glitter—you're awesome! Check out the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany issue of their Discover: Presence. It’s free, it’s awesome and full of handy at home and at church resources for school age children.
Former moderator Richard Bott is always sharing his love of liturgy with the church, and we are grateful. Make sure to follow him on social (were he shares a lot of his resources) including this alternate wording to O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
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Next week emails will focus more on worship resources and crafts. In preparation, I would love to hear from you about the Christmas hymns and texts that you find problematic and what you are doing about it! Email me at worship@united-church.ca.
Alydia |
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