Saturday, December 5, 2009

Touching Base! Part 65

Last week, Mark concluded our series in Deuteronomy. That morning also allowed us to “soft launch” into our Christmas series, “The Advent Conspiracy.” We thought it would be a good idea to define the concept a little further so that you understand where we are headed in the next 4 weeks as we move into the Christmas season.

The Advent Conspiracy is not a four-point check list on how to do Christmas - it is about entering the story of Jesus more deeply with a desire to worship more fully. It dares to ask the question, “What if Advent is bigger than we dare imagine?”
Over the next four weeks, it is our goal to raise the level of compassion and awareness by practicing four simple, but powerful, counter-cultural concepts:

November 29th: LOVE ALL…
… the poor, the forgotten, the marginalized, the sick, in ways that make a difference
Overcoming for those who are overcome
Mark Kotchapaw and the Compassion and Justice Team did a fantastic job raising the awareness
of the needs around us and also equipping us with action steps to make a difference.
(see Touching Base 64 for more information)

December 6th: SPEND LESS…
… and free your resources for things that truly matter
Fred Grendel will be helping us to understand how we can make an old tradition new

December 13th: GIVE MORE…
… of your “presence”: your hands, your words, your time, your heart
This Intergenerational Service will challenge us to be giving more then just presents.

December 20th: WORSHIP FULLY…
… because Christmas begins and ends with Jesus.
Bill Duffy will be discussing the importance of worshipping Jesus in the miracle of His incarnation.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
5:00- 6:00 pm
Join us as we worship the Light of the World.

We are greater together then we are apart. May you be challenged to consider new collaborations with others in your community as we serve those in our midst. Join us at Bethel as we enter the Conspiracy.

Jamie

Note:
The library has purchased 3 copies of the book Advent Conspiracy for you to take out and read. This excellent little book will show you “how to substitute consumption with compassion” and “have a Christmas worth remembering, not dreading.”

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