Dear Glen Mar friends,
As Advent approaches, I’m full of the anticipation of the season. Journey to Bethlehem, Jewels for Hope, All Saints’ Sunday, and the Journey of Advent and Christmas! My prayer for us, and for you, this Advent season, is that you will set aside time and space for what really matters and WHO really matters.
Christmas is not about the acquisition of material things; it is a celebration of the gift of a Savior, who brings hope, love joy and peace that the world cannot give. It is a chance to give (rather than receive) out of gratitude for God who comes to us in Christ.
Christmas is not your birthday or mine, so we need not obsess over “getting” for ourselves. It is Jesus’ birthday—so I want to invite us to celebrate his birthday well. How can we do this?
- Try a “reverse Advent calendar” where each day you give away something to someone in need—a can for the food pantry, a note for someone lonely. Google “reverse Advent calendar” for samples and ideas!
- Celebrate Jesus’ birthday by helping with, and sharing about Journey to Bethlehem! Registration for guests opens Nov. 1, and sharing news about Glen Mar’s Advent and Christmas Services on social media. Check out our FB page for events to “share.”
- Join an Advent Bible study to learn more about the Birthday Boy! Our series this year will be called “The Journey” and many groups will study Adam Hamilton’s book of the same name. To join a group, email
gr**********@gl********.org
- Give to the body of Christ through making your pledge for 2023 and consider inviting friends to give to Glen Mar in lieu of a Christmas gift for you (I do this every year), through Giving Tuesday fundraisers. If you are on Facebook, this is easy to do. Contact
Al************@gl********.org
for help with this!
Advent and Christmas are great opportunities to reconnect with our faith, and to be reminded who we are and whose we are. Meet me at the manger this year!
See you in Church,
Pastor Mandy
