First Sunday in Advent - November 30, 2014

Today is the first Sunday in Advent.  Today we light the candle of Hope and the scripture that I've chosen to use is John 14:1-6 from the LECFamily Advent Devotional.  My #pictureadvent picture will be a picture of my grandchildren.  They are my hope for the future.  They have been visiting us during this past week for Thanksgiving and my husband & I took them to the Florida Aquarium.  On the way there, they were watching a DVD of Bible stories and songs.  Our grand daughter Bethany was singing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Amazing Grace."  How wonderful it was to hear her singing those traditional hymns of the church!

Today's Celtic Advent Calendar activity is to welcome a new person at church.  When was the last time you went out of the way to welcome someone new at your church.  Many times we have our greeting time at the beginning of the service.  But I have read research that suggests that it's better to have a time of greeting at the end of the church service when regular attendees have had a chance to find first time visitors and the first time visitors are a little more relaxed after experiencing worship. 

To sum up today's focus -- HOPE -- I found this quote in a blog by Robert Cornwall:  "To walk in hope, as a Christian, is not simply to be optimistic. Instead, it is to live with a sense of purpose, knowing that we walk in the presence of the living God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. With that sense of purpose, we light the first candle of Advent."

May this prayer be YOUR prayer during this first week of Advent:

 

Introduction to Advent Blog 2014

For the past 15 days I have been following the Daily Lectionary and Celtic Advent Calendar for 2014.  This has been a great way to continue the discipline that I started last year during Lent and has been away for me to focus during these times of the Christian year when things are very, very busy for me.  I decided to continue this discipline during this season of Advent.  During this Advent season, I will be using two resources -- the Celtic Advent Calendar for 2014 which has activities for each day beginning November 15th and going through Epiphany AND the LEC Family Advent Devotional and Daily Photo Challenge.  To follow along with me, use the following links:  Celtic Advent Calendar and the LEC Family Advent Devotional Page.  Also, I encourage you to use the following format for your devotional time.

I hope you'll join me on this journey through Advent as we prepare for the coming of the Messiah.