Advent begins on Sunday, November 27, and, at St. Matthew’s, it will be a blend of favorite traditions and new experiences. Advent-Christmas Calendars Everyone is invited to use the AdventChristmas Calendar included in this Circuit Rider as a part of your family or personal devotions. Do the suggested activity and color the symbols each day. The calendar, written by Kathy Wadsley, uses the lectionary scriptures that are read in worship. Learn about the symbols on the back side of the calendar. Advent calendars begin on December 1. On November 27, the first Sunday of Advent, color the first advent candle in the Advent Wreath (on Dec. 25) purple. Extra calendars are in the narthex. Advent Bible Study You are invited to an Advent study based on the Lectionary Readings used in worship. Rev. Ginger will lead this four week study, on Sundays, November 27-December 18 at 9:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Bring your Bible. Explore what it means that Jesus is God’s Son and the creative tension of living in a world caught between what is and what is promised to be. Find the healing capacity of hope to sustain us in times of trouble and learn how to make a space for God. The Lectionary Readings will help you prepare for this class. Wednesday Evening Services, Blue Christmas In addition to the Sunday services, a short worship service will be held on Wednesday evenings during Advent. These services will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last half an hour. The Wednesday service on December 21 will be the “Blue Christmas” service—it is the Winter Solstice and the day with the least light, the longest darkness. This service acknowledges that, for many, the holidays are not “jolly” and it can be difficult to feel “merry” at Christmas. The Blue Christmas worship provides a space to bring any and all of our struggles into sacred space and to be met with a word of grace, with the Word of God.
