Dear friends in Christ, 

Advent is nearing an end, but we do have nearly another full week of hope and preparation. In keeping with the last three weeks of suggestions for Advent Actions (week one, week two, week three), here are some ideas for ways you might use this time to open yourself to God’s transforming love in your own life and in the world.

Photo via Flickr user storebukkebruse / Creative Commons

ADVENT ACTIONS: WEEK FOUR

• In Advent, we remember the promise that God is with us — Emmanuel. Connect with members of your church to talk about ways you see people serving and loving each other in your neighborhood or city. Where do you see God’s spirit moving in those actions? How does your faith community join in? What partnerships might your church be called to explore? 

• We heard the story of Joseph and Mary this Sunday at church, a story familiar and heart-warming for many of us. It’s easy to forget that this was a non-traditional family living out a real crisis (giving birth away from home, hospitality, and midwives) in the midst of a government registration far more sinister than a simple census! And yet Scripture sets the story of God’s incarnation in the midst of this crisis. When have you experienced crisis? What is it like to need help? When have you heard God’s voice reminding you not to be afraid? 

• Gather friends or family around a meal table. Since Christmas is coming, talk about what gifts you’d like to receive. But this time, don’t think about material goods for yourself. What gifts would you like to see that might honor the spirit and wonder of Christmas? Don’t stop there. Imagine what it would take for that gift to be made real. If someone says, “I’d like to see world peace,” then talk about what you can do to bring that gift closer to reality. Think big! Speak boldly!

Remember to share your experience with friends, either in person or online. Please consider posting these stories here in the comments or on Forward Movement’s Facebook or Twitter feeds.

Dear friends in Christ, 

As we move into the third week of Advent, it’s time for another set of Advent Actions. If you missed week one or week two, it’s not too late to give them a try! Here are some suggestions for ways to deepen your love of God and neighbor.

Photo via Flickr user storebukkebruse / Creative Commons

ADVENT ACTIONS: WEEK THREE

• Ask a neighbor or a friend: What does “good news” mean to you? In their answer, do you hear connections with what Jesus says in this week’s Gospel, “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them”? What does ‘good news’ mean in your community?

• Do something generous for a person who devotes her or his life to serving others. For non-profits and helping professions, the end of the year brings great challenges, with increased needs and, often, budgetary pressure. Give a gift or offer to help. Make a donation. Delight someone.

• Gather friends or family around a meal table. Talk about today’s headlines. Who is suffering and afraid in the stories? Who is strong and mighty in the stories? Why? Where do you find God in our society and in your conversation? Pray together for the needs of the world.

Remember to share your experience with friends, either in person or online. Please consider posting these stories here in the comments or on Forward Movement’s Facebook or Twitter feeds.

Dear friends in Christ, 

Last week we suggested a few practices that might help transform this Advent into a time of active longing, not just passive longing. Please give these a try, and share your experiences on Forward Movement’s Facebook or Twitter feeds or own your own social media. Above all, join us in praying for God’s reign of justice, mercy, and righteousness. May we all be prepared to greet Jesus Christ when we meet him at Christmas, in our neighbors, or at the end of days.

Photo via Flickr user storebukkebruse / Creative Commons

ADVENT ACTIONS: WEEK TWO

• Have real conversations with your neighbors this week, the kind that move beyond small talk. Try listening more than you speak. Ask more questions than you share answers. What do you hear? Can you name something that you learned from a neighbor for the first time?

• Learn more about a non-profit in your community. Visit their website, read a newsletter, or talk with a staff member. What needs do they see in the community? Are you being called to support this non-profit in some way? Where is God at work in what they are doing?

• Gather friends or family around a meal table. What stories do you know of people, living in times of turmoil, who manifested the love of God? How did their lives point to something beyond themselves? What can you do to make a place for Jesus Christ to shine forth in your life so that you are a saint for others?

Remember to share your experience with friends, either in person or online. Please consider posting these stories here in the comments or on Forward Movement’s Facebook or Twitter feeds.