EGR & Advent Conspiracy: Join the Advent(ure)

[Rachel Swan]

I can hardly believe its Monday in Advent 2. Time flies. I think it
flies no matter what, but my hope is that your season so far has been
filled with some fun, as well as some time to try and slow down,
nestle into the quiet, and catch the counter-cultural rhythm that
Advent ushers in.

I hope that you have seen it already, but if not--will you consider
stopping by now to get involved with EGR and Advent Conspiracy (http://
e4gr.wordpress.com)? What is it? How can you participate? Its all
there, and SO MUCH MORE.

Each week we are taking one of the themes: Worship Fully, Spend Less,
Give More and Love All, and putting our ideas, resources, articles,
pictures, reflections--whatever we can find--and posting them up for
us all to use. We've explored worship fully a bit, and are now into
Advent 2: Spend Less.

We need your voice! What are you doing, what ideas have you seen? Come
by, say hi, and join us on this Holy Advent(ure).

To give you an idea, this was posted to the blog yesterday...

Advent 2: Welcome to Spend Less Week

Lord, we wait with eager expectation for the coming of Your
kingdom
when the humble will be exalted and the hungry fed.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Lord, we prepare for Your advent with searching minds and contrite
hearts, trusting in Your healing spirit and redemptive love.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Lord, we watch with those who wait and weep, longing to see the
rule of justice and the reign of peace.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Lord, we seek You among the despised and rejected, knowing that
there we will find Your light shining in the dark.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Lord, we proclaim sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed,
trusting in Your tender mercy and passion for justice.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Lord, we work with others to proclaim Your truth, challenging the
mighty and raising the meek.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

Lord, we wrestle with our hopes and our fears, our struggles and
our joys laboring with creation to come to new birth.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

- Annabel Shilson-Thomas

Its Advent 2, a full seven days into our journey into the darkness–
awaiting the coming light, life.

This week on the blog we hope to give you ideas, reflections and
articles about how you might spend less on Christmas presents this
year, so that we may be freed up to give more PRESENCE.

What are your favorite homemade gifts? What are you doing to spend
less this year? Where are you shopping, and what tips and tricks for
saving money are you using this year?

How’s this for a few ideas for spending less? (Ideas from this awesome
resource Buy Nothing Christmas, bookmark it! Great site!)

1. Make a soothing, herb pillow filled with lavender, rose, etc.
2. Collect quotes that make you think of someone.
3. Stamp and address postcards for family members.
4. For the elderly people in your life, research newspaper and
magazine articles from their youth and present in a creative fashion.
5. Make a calendar with pictures of family members and/or scenery.
6. Wrap gifts in newspaper, maps, scarves or interesting clothing.
7. Fill an old trunk or suitcase with fun clothing, hats and gaudy
jewelry for your children to play dress-up.
8. Make a puppet from a sock.
9. Give away a valued possession.

What’s on your list?