Greetings!
Thank you for joining us as we begin the journey of Advent. Each day you will receive a scripture reading, a reflection on that reading and a short prayer. Join us as we journey together in anticipation of our Savior's birth. As you begin these daily Advent meditations, consider adopting some type of "rule of life." Consider spending a brief time each day in Bible reading, reading these meditations, exploring the "family worship section" of the Book of Common Prayer or any of the Advent-themed links shown at the bottom of this email. If we continue an activity for 21 days, research shows, it becomes a habit.
Christian Formation Commission
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Scripture
Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;
I have said to the Holy One, "You are my God,
my good above all other."
Psalm 16:1
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Reflection
A mother of a two-year-old girl approached me one morning about a week ago with a question. She asked what she could do to help her toddler understand the real meaning of Christmas. She explained that her daughter understands Christmas only in terms of Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse. I understood the former, but Mickey Mouse puzzled me. The mother was upset because she and her husband have worked hard not to impart this view of Christmas. Nonetheless, a secular Christmas was already being heavily imprinted on the child.
I suppose I could have been shocked and then despaired that society was promoting, rather successfully I should add, a fantasy Christmas.
I might have engaged in handwringing, but on that day, my response was one of hope and joy. I thought of the opening verse of Psalm 16, that I had read only an hour before my encounter with the mother. The Pslamist began with a great declaration of faith and trust in God, declaring, "I have taken refuge in you" and "You are my God." Implicit in the mother's request for help was a similar, if unspoken, affirmation of her faith. Where the Psalmist wrote, "You are my God," that mother was affirming that Christmas is about the birth of our Savior.
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Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for the hope and expectation of this season as we draw near to celebrate with great joy the birth your Son, our Savior, Jesus. We ask you to keep our minds and hearts focused on this, the only true Christmas. We ask you to guide us as we teach our young and new Christians about the meaning of this holy celebration. And we ask you to strengthen us to avoid the danger of self-righteousness in our journey to celebrate the Nativity of the Christ. Amen.
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