Advent Unwrapped: November Blessings✨

November Blessings

November Blessings Advent Unwrappers, (Don’t worry, I know that it is not Advent yet) My prayers are with you as you prepare your Remembrance Day services. After a long and hard week, I am grateful for the reminder from The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, that “Words have power. Words invoke reaction.” We have all experienced harmful and weaponizing words over the past few months, words that have fueled apathy, war, despair, and hate. May we choose our words with great care and great love. May our words and actions this week and throughout the upcoming Advent season, intentionally make space for hope, peace, joy and love to flourish in an often-languishing world. This summer the Advent Unwrapped team was delighted to welcome The United Church of Canada’s Disability and Accessibility Network, who provided a variety of resources, including worship liturgies, prayers, art work and reading guides, from an inclusive and anti-ableist perspective. We have also welcomed Global Partners who will be leading us in prayer during the season of Advent. Throughout November we will be adding new resources to Advent Unwrapped, including complete worship services for each Sunday in Advent. You may notice that some of your favorite Advent Unwrapped resources are not on the home page, you’ll find them on our Advent resource pages. Here are some of the new things to explore this week. For Worship Planners and Leaders Longest Night Service: The Rev. Dr. Lisa Waites provides a service that invites us all to make space for those who are grieving. Service Music for Advent and Scripture Music for Advent: Two music packages with accessible easy to teach music for the season, including a Candle Lighting song and scripture music based on Year C. For Everyone Advent Unwrapped 2024 Prayer Calendar: use this prayer calendar based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Your (Unofficial) Guide to Advent: we have created best-of bundles with popular Advent Unwrapped content that helps us connect with the reason for the season. Zines: we have a growing collection of pocket zines for prayers and spiritual practices you can literally keep in your back pocket. Events Join a recorded conversation with Dan Hayward, Lisa Waites, and Kathleen James-Cavan on our Facebook page, where we discuss how communities can create an accessible and barrier-free Advent.   Webinar on Tuesday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. ET: The Texts of Advent: Finding Good News and Avoiding Antisemitism. I'll be checking in this month with more resources as they become available, and throughout the season, so that together we can do what we can, with what we have, to make space for grace. Until then, I am waiting with you. Alydia Twitter Facebook Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

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