Recently in Advent Conspiracy Category

Here's an email I received from Marla Chantry yesterday:

Dear Staff,

I just wanted to share with you that a poem I wrote has been made into a mini drama that will air Wednesday and Thursday on Christian radio station KFLR, 90.3 FM, on the Intentional Living show. The drama is about three minutes long, and I am told it will air sometime between 2:15pm and 2:30pm each day. There is a possibility that I will be interviewed on air on Wednesday; we'll see.

I wrote the poem eight years ago, after spending too much time under the crushing weight of the commercial reasons for Christmas instead of the real reason for this special day of celebration. Three years ago I gave the poem to Cynthia Bogart after she expressed the same frustrations I had experienced years earlier. About six weeks ago, as a surprise to me, she submitted my poem to Randy Carlson of KFLR's Intentional Living show. They decided they didn't want to just read the poem on air, but make a mini drama out of it. 

Also, the theme of Randy Carlson's show this week is "Intentional Giving". To express their gratitude to their listeners and to be "Intentional Givers" themselves, they are going to provide the audio - via a download link on their web site - free to anyone who requests it.

Blessings,

Marla

Pretty cool! Everyone who works with Marla knows she is an excellent writer. It's great to see her gifts being used to help so many people remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Click here to find when and where the show broadcasts in your area or listen online here. Listen to the archived shows when they become available here.

That's Christmas! from andy pearce on Vimeo.

From St. Helen's Bishopsgate in London.

Christ the King Presbyterian Church (Raleigh, N.C.) has prepared a devotional of Scriptures, prayers, and hymns to help you and your family remember that God stepped out of heaven, became one of us, and fundamentally altered the course of human history so that those who believe in him might be redeemed. To download a copy of the devotional, click here.

Or, visit the Virtual Advent Wreath where over the course of the next several weeks leading up to Christmas, they will be posting a series of meditations focused on the story of Jesus’ birth from the Gospels.

Mark D. Roberts has his 2008 Advent guide online - Preparing for the Coming of Christ:
A Guide for Using the Advent Wreath.

We seem to take solace in the idea that half-hearted worship is acceptable as long as it's honest, but doesn't Jesus ask us for "all"?

Go deeper! Listen to my podcast on this subject on iTunes or at our podcast page for TruthCast.

Here are a few books you can use to focus on the real meaning of Christmas:

• Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas
• Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration
• The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas
• Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent

You can read Advent devotionals online (and have them sent to your email address) here.

Mark D. Roberts helps us understand the meaning and significance of the Advent season.

The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent we’re reminded of how much we also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. Indeed, the word Advent comes from the Latin word that means “coming” or “visit.” In the season with this name, we keep in mind both “advents” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.

Read more here.

Advent08, found here , is a daily devotional tool to help find focus and discipline attention. It is more than just a way to count down the days to Christmas; it is a way to help transform Advent into a journey of faith. It is a way to help prepare for the coming of Jesus to live among us, so that the good news of Christmas morn lingers on long after the packages are opened. It is our hope and prayer that the Holy Spirit would lead you through the Scriptures to a newfound wonder of Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. May the Lord bless you on your journey.

Advent Begins November 30.

(Found at Between Two Worlds)

Pastor Rick McKinley of Imago Dei Community discusses Advent Conspiracy.

 

[AC] Advent Conspiracy from Jon Collins on Vimeo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RethinkingChristmas.com - Advent Conspiracy is a movement calling us to proclaim Christ in how we celebrate Christmas. But rethinking Christmas is not an easy venture for anyone. It requires us to try new things and push outside our comfort zone. This is a community site for you to share your stories and ideas for the season of advent. To particpate, contribute your gift ideas and post questions and comments in the forum.

Advent Conspiracy brochure (12.6 MB pdf)

Listen to the Advent Conspiracy podcast (link will open iTunes, if you have it)