1A) Pre-reading Activity: Chapter1

[TreyAndKrys]

Before you start to read chapter 1 take a minute to make a list of all
the things you did over the Advent season last year. For example: Bake
Christmas cookies and pass out to friends and co-workers, Christmas
Shop (10 hours), Christmas musical rehearsal and show (6 Sunday’s),
Decorate the inside of the house, put lights up outside, Mail
Christmas presents to the east coast…
When you are done with your list take a highlighter and mark the
things that are Christ centered. The things you did to be in service
to others, worship to or praise of the Lord.
What have you learned about your Christmas priorities? How do you feel
about the activities you do during Advent? Are you surprised by the
list, proud of what you do, or do you feel guilty? What are some
things you would like to change? What are some things that you would
like to do more of or keep the same?

[Krystina Kyle]

One of the things that I noticed about my list of Christmas activities
was that I tend to spend more time at church and more time in family
centered activities. I noticed last year that their was a conflict
between church time and family time. Increased time at church
(musical, services, Advent studies) made it harder to fulfill the
family traditions (Christmas cookies, tree trimming & shopping,
decorating the house) that I enjoy at Christmas time. There are only
so many hours in a day/week/weekend after all. Finding the balance
seems to be difficult. How do you choose between your family and
service at church?

We also seem to do better at doing devotions and prayers during
Advent. It seems that I put more effort in during Advent and Lent. I
am a little ashamed that I do not keep this ritual up during the rest
of the year.

[DAVEOJ1]

Advent is a busy time for Donna and I. For several years we have been
the primary leaders for the Hanging of the Greens and Altar
decorations at church. Always a lot of work, but always try to do
something that adds to the congregational experience. Last year I was
leading the Advent Bible Study, so in addition to the hour and a half
on Wednesday evening, I was spending 3-4 hours of reading, research,
and Power Point creation. It forced me to focus more on the meanings
of Advent and ways to communicate them to others rather than just the
normal hanging lights and decorating Trees. Believe me, when I put up
a Japanese musical video of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi", or the
Muppets doing "Ode to Joy", it led to some interesting discussion of
the meanings of what we celebrate. With just the two of us at home
now, Advent and Christmas tends to be simplified, but with lots of
memories (47 years worth, we still have ornaments from our first
Christmas tree). The last few years we have focused more on mission
giving at Advent than gifts for each other. This year will be the
third year our church has used the Clean Water Well Project from "Hope
for the Children" as our Advent Mission project, and last year I had
the priviledge of presenting this material each worship service. It
starts to change your perspective when you get involved in a project
like this.

[JoAnna Van Camp]

Put up a tree, bought angel tree presents, toured Christmas lights in
neighborhoods, went to church, had advent wreath and devotion at home.
I feel really good about my Advent activities because they are a good
mix of family time, worship and service. I'd like to do the same this
year.