THE HOPE OF A SAVIOR
DEVOTIONS FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 2021 A gift from Children’s Ministries at Myers Park United Methodist Church
Cover Art: Baby Jesus, Lillian Heath, age 8
THE HOPE OF A SAVIOR Devotions for Advent and Christmas 2021 A gift from Children’s Ministries at Myers Park United Methodist Church
No Room at the Inn, Anna Price, age 10
“A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” - O Holy Night Dear Friends, Hope is a theme found throughout the Bible. It appears 48 times in the Old Testament and 85 times in the New Testament. The Psalms have numerous chapters about it; Job clings to it in his times of desperation; and Paul writes about eternal hope. I’m not sure which author said, when referring to hope, that “Angels sang about it, shepherds came to worship it, wise men traveled with gifts because of it, Mary pondered it, and Joseph clung to it.” Hope is dependence on God, knowing we can count on God and that we will receive what we need. The past two years have been a time of uncertainty and, for many, a time of anxiety and fear. Although we are moving closer to being back to “normal,” we are still not there. We remain in a time when hope is still needed. Jesus came to bring us hope. He is our hope. Charles Spurgeon said, “Without Christ there is no hope.” It is our prayer that you find hope during this Advent season as you enjoy this devotional book. We hope you know your clergy and church staff are here for you. Hope is here.
The Hope of a Savior is the title of Children’s Ministries’ tenth annual Advent and Christmas devotional book. We have used thoughts from our clergy, church staff, Children’s Ministries staff, and other authors. The beautiful artwork is from the children of MPUMC, and what a gift that is! Amy Jo Alspaugh Leslie Lowery Betsy Scott Lisa Ross-Smit Katharine Willis
Baby Jesus, Ridge Ries, age 6
WEEK 1 NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 4
The Christmas Candle, Lily Fulghum, age 9
Sunday, November 28 Today we light the first candle on the Advent Wreath – the candle of Hope. If you have a lot of readers in your family, make this ritual one where they can participate. Use it the way it works best for your family. Reader:
God’s people waited for hundreds and thousands of years for the birth of God’s son. We still wait today. We wait and prepare our hearts during the season of Advent to celebrate once again the mystery of Christmas.
Reader:
Read Jeremiah 33:14.
Reader:
(Light the first candle.) We light the candle of Hope. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God will fulfill the promise that God made to Israel and Judah by giving them a Messiah.
Reader:
“Light the Advent candle one: Now the waiting has begun; we have started on our way, time to think of Christmas day. Candle, candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter night; candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.”
Quietly enjoy the light of the Hope candle. Sing “A Candle is Burning” to the tune of “Away in a Manger.” A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright, A candle of HOPE in November’s dark night. While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky, Our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh. Prayer:
Reader:
God of Hope, sometimes we find it very hard to wait. We want everything right now. Help us to wait. Help us to know that because we have hope, we can wait. We know that something is about to happen! Amen.
Angel Mary, Gabe Fleck, age 6
(Extinguish the candle.) We extinguish the light of the candle of Hope, knowing that the light of Jesus lives in our hearts always.
Monday, November 29 The most thought-provoking phrase in all the carols pertaining to Bethlehem may just be in the first stanza of Phillips Brooks’ “O Little Town of Bethlehem”: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” We are people who hope because we were created in God’s image. Even in the midst of terrible circumstances, we yearn for a brighter tomorrow. And yet we still fear. All creatures get scared. But we humans are unusual; our fear sits with us, even if there’s nothing jumping out to frighten us in the moment. We fear failure, rejection, aging, and death. Fear fuels our anxiety. Hope and fear seem to be antithetical, as if they emerge from opposite ends of the soul. But aren’t they kin, intertwined, burgeoning out of the same place inside? Aren’t they twin impulses toward a future that might annihilate us but also reward us richly? Our hopes might be simple. I hope my turkey will emerge from the oven and be tasty. I hope I get to my church’s Christmas Eve service in time to get a good seat. Then other hopes are huge and cut deeply into the soul. I hope for peace in the world or in my conflicted family. I hope my brother will make it through Christmas. And now I notice my fears are clutched very tightly around my hopes: I’m afraid he won’t make it. I fear family squabbles. I’m anxious in the kitchen with a house full of guests.
The Night of Jesus’ Birth, Scarlett MacIsaac, age 10
At this intersection of hope and fear comes Jesus, born in Bethlehem at the crossroads of the continents, where “the hopes and fear of all the years are met.” We meet Jesus at this intersection, and he meets our fears and calms them, meets our hopes and fulfills them. “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.” We need to keep our eyes on God. Instead of being overwhelmed by our fear. We let God’s love overwhelm our fears. ~ Dr. James Howell
Tuesday, November 30 “God so loved the world that he sent his only Son" - John 3:16 Advent is one of the shortest seasons of the liturgical year. I find this ironic because Advent is supposed to be a season of preparation and waiting, yet we do not have to wait long before Advent is over. One of the first memory verses I learned in Sunday School at our little country church in Indiana was John 3:16. In the first half of my life, I concentrated on the last half of the verse that talks about eternal life. In more recent years, I am much more enamored with the first half of that verse; in fact, John had me at "God so loved." Why God has sent his Son is the most cherished part of the verse to me. John says Jesus was sent to us because "God so loved us.” You and me, the whole world. Being loved by God is Good News and well worth the wait to celebrate and proclaim it. It is love that brings Jesus into our world, and it is love that transforms our being. Advent has prepared us for the coming of God's love embodied in Christ. In addition, it is because of that love, we are called to be loving to the stranger, oppressed, and marginalized, and yes, even ourselves. ~ Rev. Bill Roth
Prayer: Gracious God, you so loved us that you sent your Son among us as a reminder and an example of your love. Fill us with your spirit, that we may grow in love and continue to live out our Christian faith with compassion for all your children. Amen.
I Love Jesus, Shep Carroll, age 7
Wednesday, December 1 Angel-Filled Advent Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Advent came filled with angels and alleluias? Wouldn’t it be perfect if we were greeted on these December mornings with a hovering of heavenly hosts tuning their harps and brushing up on their fa-la-las? Wouldn’t it be incredible if their music filled our waking hours with the promise of peace on earth and if each Advent night we dreamed of nothing but goodwill? Wouldn’t we be ecstatic if we could take those angels shopping, or trim the tree or have them hold our hands and dance through our houses decorating?
The Angel of the Lord, Emma Cate Carroll, age 9
And, oh, how glorious it would be to sit in church next to an angel and sing our hark-the-heralds! What an Advent that would be! What Christmas spirit we could have! An angel-filled Advent has so many possibilities! But in lieu of that, perhaps we can give thanks for the good earthly joys we have been given and for the earthly “angels” that we know who do such a good job of filling our Advent with alleluias!
The Glitter Angel, Charlotte Buckfelder, age 6
~ Ann Weems, Kneeling in Bethlehem
Christmas Angel, Scott Copeland, age 5
Angel with Rainbow, Clive Honeycutt, age 5
Thursday, December 2 “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” - Luke 2:19 Mary is a poster child for pondering, reflecting on or wrestling with something in her mind. When the angel Gabriel visited Mary to foretell the birth of Jesus, “she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” After she gave birth to Jesus, the shepherds arrived and told others about the message of the angels, that unto them and unto us all, a child was born who is Christ the Lord. “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” I wonder what Mary was pondering. Did she grasp the magnitude of Jesus’ birth? Was she already thinking about his future and maybe even the end of his life? These words from a hymn guide my own pondering:
“I wonder as I wander out under the sky, How Jesus the Savior did come for to die. For poor on’ry people like you and like I … I wonder as I wander out under the sky.”
Wandering may seem like an impossible task during the busy month of December, but I invite you to take time to slow down, to ponder, and to wonder as you wander through this Advent season. What does Jesus’ birth mean for you? What is God’s message for you? How can you be more like Mary, treasuring God’s words and pondering them in your heart? What can you contemplate, reflect on and maybe even wrestle with as you listen to God? ~ Betsy Scott
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, quiet our minds and open our hearts. Give us time to slow down, to wonder as we wander, and to ponder your message for us. Amen.
I Love You Baby Jesus, Elizabeth Peterson, age 4
Friday, December 3 “For every hour is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” - Hebrews 3:4 The holiday season is a time when I spend a lot more time in my home. I also think it is one of my favorite times in my home. I love decorating for Christmas, making cookies in my kitchen, and watching Christmas movies on my couch. This is a time when I am truly grateful for my house. Take a moment to think about and share some things in your home that you are grateful for this season. Take a moment to give thanks for the hands that built your home. Perhaps you give thanks for a nameless construction worker who built your home many years ago. Maybe you are giving thanks for your grandmother who knit the blanket you are using to keep warm. Maybe you are giving thanks for the person who cooked the meal that is making your Story of Christmas, Dylan Connell, age 6 home smell lovely. Stop and give thanks for the person whose labor you are enjoying. As we practice gratitude in our homes, may we look to God as a builder. Our scripture reminds us that God is the builder of everything. God’s goodness shines in all that we do, everywhere we go and everyone we meet. God is even the builder of you. In what ways do you see the evidence of God’s goodness everywhere in the world? What does it change for you to see your home as God’s? ~ Rev. Taylor Pryde Barefoot
Prayer: Creator God, we give thanks for the way you have woven your goodness into everything in our lives. We give you thanks for our homes. We know that home is not always perfect, but we know that you are present with us nonetheless. Bless this home, may it be a place of warmth, love, and worship of you. We love you so much. Amen.
Saturday, December 4 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.” - Malachi 3:1 Have you ever had a friend just stop by to visit? People do not do that as much today as they once did. When I was little we would go to my grandparents’ house after church. They lived in a small town near my hometown. Sometimes people would stop by, and sometimes we would go around and visit friends and family – some people I knew, some I did not. Now, as an adult with my own home, I think about what it would be like to have unexpected visitors stop by on the weekends. “What if the house is dirty? What if I don’t have anything to feed them? What if I’m wearing my sweatpants and my hair is a mess?” I am not prepared! Sometimes when we think about preparing for visitors, superficial things come to mind first, like whether the house is clean. These things can be important! But what we learn in the Bible is that God wants us to have our HEARTS ready to receive others. Whether it is friends or family, strangers or neighbors -- if we practice true hospitality, we are always ready to welcome others into our lives with an open mind and heart. Each year the season of Advent comes to remind us to get our hearts ready. Have we prepared room in our hearts and our lives for Jesus? It does not matter if our houses are perfectly decorated, if we bought the right gifts for everyone, or if everything is checked off our list. What is most important is preparing our hearts for the One who shows us the way to welcome strangers Baby Jesus is Home, Campbell Heath, age 5 into our midst, how to see the needy in our community, and see Jesus in the faces of everyone who comes across our path. To live the Advent way, we make room for the unexpected visitor in our lives, our homes, our families. That visitor could just be Jesus! ~ Sarah Herr
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of Advent. Thank you for reminding us that it is time again to prepare our homes and our hearts for welcoming Jesus. We know that when we ready ourselves for Him, we are creating room for all those around us who need our hospitality all year long. Amen.
WEEK 2 DECEMBER 5 – DECEMBER 11
Praise the Lord, Anna Merritt Peterson, age 10
Sunday, December 5 Today we light two candles on the Advent Wreath – the candle of Hope and the candle of Peace. If you have a lot of readers in your family, make this ritual one where they can participate. Use it the way it works best for your family. Reader:
Today we mark the second Sunday of Advent and, as God’s people, we continue to wait. We wait and prepare our hearts during the season of Advent to celebrate once again the mystery of Christmas. (Light the first candle.) The prophets told us to hope.
Reader:
Read Isaiah 40:9.
Reader:
(Light the second candle.) We light the candle of Peace. The prophet Isaiah says to lift up your voice with good tidings – the good news of peace.
Reader:
“Light the Advent candle two: Think of humble shepherds, who filled with wonder at the sight of the child of Christmas night. Candle, candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter night; candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.”
Quietly enjoy the light of the Hope and Peace candles. Sing “A Candle is Burning” to the tune of “Away in a Manger.” A candle is burning, a candle of PEACE, A candle to signal that conflict must cease, For Jesus is coming to show us the way, A message of peace humbly laid in the hay. Prayer:
God of Peace, help us during the season of Advent, to be peacemakers in your name. Amen.
Reader:
(Extinguish the candle.) We extinguish the light of the candle of Hope and the candle of Peace, knowing that the light of Jesus lives in our hearts always. Baby Jesus, Barrett Wright, age 4
Monday, December 6 “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’”- Luke 1:30-33 (NRSV) What difficult news for Mary to hear from this angel. Mary is engaged (not yet married) but she is pregnant?! When Mary has every reason to be afraid, the angel of the Lord advises her, “Do not be afraid.” But, with this announcement, Mary faces the real possibility that her family and friends will ridicule and abandon her and her entire community will reject her forever. How would you respond if someone foretold an event that would turn your life upside down? I wonder how Mary took this news. Despite all the pain that might await Mary and her baby, the angel further comments, “you have found favor with God… [your son] will reign over the house of Jacob forever.” So here we find that Mary’s upcoming trials and tribulations will also become her greatest triumph. None of us wants Baby Jesus, Grant Cameron, age 6 pain or detours in our lives. I want my life to unfold the way I desire, and I do my best to avoid trouble. Yet, in spite of our best efforts, sometimes pain and trouble find us. In the midst of unexpected and unwelcomed surprise in our lives, God still walks with us and calls us to draw closer to God. In this season of Advent, we remember that Jesus comes to us, in the flesh, in the midst of chaos…when life unfolds suddenly and surprisingly. In the last two years, all of us got familiar with the unexpected and unwelcomed elements in our lives. God still draws near to us, and God calls us to draw nearer too. Let us come and worship, pray, and praise God together. Thanks be to God. ~ Dr. Uiyeon Kim
Prayer: Spirit of the living God, we give thanks for the assurances of your peace in the midst of our chaotic world/lives. Help us to trust that you guide us in all of our doing. Enable us to draw nearer to you especially when we feel distant from you. We praise you for the gift of Jesus our Savior who reveals healing in the midst of pain, comfort in the midst of troubles, and new life in the midst of loss. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, December 7 “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” - Romans 8:24-25 We recognize Advent as a season of waiting, preparing, and anticipating. The idea of “patiently waiting” often gets lost in the hurried nature of these days. In my years of nursing care, I have had some experience with this concept of waiting. It is a challenging space for all…both patients and caregivers. We all have a need for certainty, prompt answers, and a firm “plan” in our lives. It is deeply humbling to walk with a patient and family on their journey of waiting. Perhaps they are waiting for a test result or a diagnosis, for a treatment or a plan of care, for first words or a first step, or even for a first or a last breath. There are sacred spaces in these moments of waiting. I have been moved by the amazing sense of hope that patients and families are able to nurture, regardless of what they are awaiting and facing medically. It often is a hope for what we do not easily see. Can a sense of healing, perhaps, come in our waiting? Maybe it is not the actual physical healing of a medical diagnosis, but rather a healing and hope of a different kind. As we move through this season of waiting and preparing, what are you Baby Jesus Sleeping, Owen Maciag, age 4 recognizing in your own waiting? What are you mindful of at this very moment in your day? Where are you nurturing hope and healing, in what you can and cannot see each day? ~ Lauren Smith
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, in this time of waiting, prepare our hearts and steady our focus. Help us to recognize the moments of healing and wholeness that come to us in this season of waiting. May we foster an abiding hope along our journey together as we offer your love and healing presence to our world. Amen.
Wednesday, December 8 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. - Luke 2:18-19 Why do bad things happen to good people? I don’t know, but I also don’t know why God continues to love, forgive, and offer me hope time and time again.
How could this happen? (“this” could be death, failure, disease, a broken heart...) I don’t know, but I also don’t know how God could take on the form of a baby, enter this world and change everything from that moment forward.
How can I believe any of this is true? I don’t know, but I also can’t imagine living any oth-
er way; having to figure out everything on my own and feeling alone in the universe.
For every impossible question to answer about this life - this life we share, endure, laugh through together on Earth - there is an equally impossible thought about God that is just as hard to wrap our brains around. That is faith. It is a great mystery. A beautifully complex, sometimes painful, often hopeful, and occasionally overwhelmingly wonderful faith. I picture Mary holding her newborn Messiah and looking out at the plains or sheep or rocky landscape and asking a question like the first set above. How did we survive the trek here? How will we make it? Now what? What if I can’t do this? Then she looks down into Jesus’ eyes. She rubs his soft skin. She whispers, “I don’t know, but we will get through this. I don’t know how, but I believe.” This Christmas, it is okay to say, “I don’t know.” You do not have to have it all figured out. God, the creator of everything, became a baby. (Pause, look up from this page, laugh and shake your head.) God became a baby. ~ Jason Rhymer The Day Jesus Was Born, Prayer: God, we face impossible questions here Emma Cameron, age 10 that rattle us, unhinge us, and make us scared of not knowing how to get through it all. Remind us that you are the God of the impossible; you are the God of wonder, love, hope, and all things eternal. In addition, how can we know that is true? You became a baby and endured everything with us and for us. How can this be? We don’t know, but we love you and will trust, believe, and lean in for your guidance and comfort. In Jesus’ name…Amen.
Thursday, December 9 Read Luke 2:8-12. Recently I was sitting outside eating lunch with a friend, and the light from the sun blinded me the whole time. I was reminded of how uncomfortable and disorienting it can be to have this light shining in your face. It inhibits you from being able to fully open your eyes, and when you do open your eyes, it is hard to make out what you are actually seeing other than figures and shapes. This made me think about the shepherds and the visit they experienced from the angels. The scripture says, “The glory of the Lord shone all around them and they were terrified.” I began visualizing this great light of God shining around them and found it relatable that they would be terrified. Just sitting outside and having the brightness of the sunshine in your eyes can be disorienting. I can only imagine standing in this field and experiencing this unexplainable visit and life-altering message. Then...there is that moment of clarity, when forms and shapes become real and visible, when the initial shock fades and comprehension begins. The Advent season is full of light and beauty and I think it is easy to become distracted and blinded by the lights. There is the tendency to become awestruck and disoriented, but then we have moments of clarity that enable us to see the Holy and hear the divine message of hope, peace, and love. This season of preparation for the birth of Jesus is one where we know the light of God is coming into the world and our lives once again. My hope and prayer is that we all may be able to bask in the light that is both disorienting and terrifying AND beautiful and bright. That even in moments that are uncomfortable and unclear, you have patience to hear the message and then experience the reality of God with us. ~ Rev. Jessica Dayson
Why is That So Bright?, Jude Martin, age 8
Friday, December 10 “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God...Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’” - Isaiah 40:1, 9 (NRSV; emphasis added) If you are like me, you may be contemplating which year was worse: 2020 or 2021? For the prophet Isaiah, it was the years that he and his fellow Israelites were in exile. Displaced, not knowing if they would ever return home. Discouraged, without a temple in which to worship and find refuge. Despaired by the complete hopelessness of their situation. In addition, desperate to feel connected to God again. Yet God sends the heavenly council to remind Isaiah that God is here. God has always been here! Even when we are not aware of it or we are in the darkest places, God’s presence is always near and God is always calling out to us. O, what comfort! As the Israelites neared the end of the exile and as we hopefully near the end of the pandemic, God is calling us to return home again… back to our relationship with God. To reconnect and re-engage with our Maker.
Christmas Season, Ford Hurley, age 5
Therefore, if any of us have felt distant or deserted from God this year, may this Christmas season be a time to lift up our voices and reach back out to God in the same way that God has constantly reached out to us. God is here! Here I am, God! Questions for Reflection: Where do you see God present in your life? In what ways can you reach back out to God? ~ Sarah Simmons
Saturday, December 1 1 “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.“ - Psalm 73: 21-26 In my Old Testament class last semester, I was able to spend some time reading Psalms. This one, Psalm 73, was one that I was not as familiar with as others. I was drawn to the last line, “the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” What a powerful and faithful statement, and a true statement, too. For almost two years we have lived apart, masked, relied on internet, Zoom, FaceTime or a combination of all of those, but God has been here, our hope and our strength. Yes, the past year and a half have tested our patience, courage, confidence, and I believe, at least for me at times, my sanity. But God never failed, never stopped loving, and never stopped listening to prayers. During the time of Advent and waiting, yes, more waiting, I hope and pray that I learn to wait with a little more courage and love this season. There is so much to celebrate, so much love to give, to share. I can only hope that this season of waiting, not just for things to return to “normal,” whatever that really does mean, but to welcome and celebrate that, “Hope is Here,” that this season of Advent brings hope, faith, and love to all of God’s children. Because just as the verse tells us, “my flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart forever.” Thanks be to God, AMEN. ~ Julie Wentz
Jesus Born in Bethlehem, Joel Kim, age 7
WEEK 3 DECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18
Jesus, Charlotte Crisp, age 5
Sunday, December 12 Today we light three candles on the Advent Wreath – the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, and the candle of Joy, which is often called Mary’s candle. If you have a lot of readers in your family, make this ritual one where they can participate. Use it the way it works best for your family. Reader:
Today we mark the third Sunday of Advent and, as God’s people, we continue to wait. We wait and prepare our hearts during the season of Advent to celebrate once again the mystery of Christmas. (Light the first candle.) The first candle reminds us of Hope – God keeps promises. (Light the second candle.) The second candle reminds us of Peace and Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Reader:
Read Isaiah 12:2-6.
Reader:
(Light the third candle.) We light the candle of Joy and remember that the Lord has done glorious things.
Reader:
“Light the Advent candle three: Think of heavenly harmony; angels singing ‘Peace on earth’ at the blessed Savior’s birth. Candle, candle, burning bright, Jesus in the Manger, Charley Fulghum, age 7 shining in the cold winter night; candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.”
Quietly enjoy the light of the Hope, Peace, and Joy candles. Sing “A Candle is Burning” to the tune of “Away in a Manger.” A candle is burning, a candle of JOY, A candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy. Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow. Prayer:
God of Joy, you love us and take care of us. You pay special attention to the people others ignore and overlook. You came to live among us as a tiny baby. We are filled with joy when we say thanks be to God. Amen.
Reader:
(Extinguish the candle.) We extinguish the light of the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, and the candle of Joy, knowing that the light of Jesus lives in our hearts always.
Monday, December 13 At this time of year, I remember my Moravian roots growing up in Winston-Salem. Advent was full of excitement, traditions, and anticipation. We hung our Moravian star the first Sunday of Advent, placed the Advent wreath on the kitchen table, looked for the perfect Fraser fir tree, attended the Candle Tea at Old Salem, and saw the Nutcracker. Then Christmas Eve would finally arrive! We’d first go to the love feast at church. I remember peering over the church balcony to see all the lit candles below. It felt like we were one big family, even though the church was filled with visitors. There is something emotional about a group of people raising candles high in the dark to honor the birth of the Savior. It unites us. We are family because we are His. He is Emmanuel, God with us. After the service ended, off to my grandmother Diddy’s we would go. My dad is one of seven children and I am one of 16 grandchildren. The guest list was always long and visitors were treated like family because hospitality is an Alspaugh trait and Diddy never met a stranger. I cherish those huge holiday gatherings and miss that big house full of people I loved; some I saw only at Christmas. It was pure joy being with my extended family. I look back and cherish the quiet moments of motherhood with my daughter when she was an infant, as those were times of pure joy also. Can you imagine the long-awaited moment when Mary and Joseph have the first few quiet moments with their son, Jesus? They had no idea the quiet would soon be overshadowed by the hoopla when word got out about Jesus’ birth. It is wonderful to be a part of huge family gatherings but, before we get there, let us enjoy the quiet and the calm as we are waiting and anticipating the best party of all, the birth of our Savior. The best part is that this party is one everyone can celebrate. ~ Amy Jo Alspaugh
Prayer: Dear Lord, let us not rush to Christmas and to the celebrating. Let us enjoy the Advent season and spend some quiet time, find time to be still and calm as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of your Son, our Savior. As we celebrate, may we invite someone who is alone this season to celebrate with us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. The Great Star, Jonas Martin, age 8
Tuesday, December 14 “…and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” - Luke 2:16-19 (NIV) The shepherds are often lauded for their heroic jumps to praise Jesus immediately after following the angel’s announcement, only after being told to not be afraid. Mary is often held in a heroic light for simply saying “yes” to bear the Christ child and yet in this verse we see she also had a moment to stop and ponder. These two groups of people had such different, yet such beautiful, reactions to Jesus’ birth! This season if you find yourself pondering the events of the year and wondering how you arrived at this moment, or crossroads, you are in good company. Mary treasured and pondered the birth of her own child. The shepherds had a bit more boisterous approach to his birth and began sharing, praising, and rejoicing with anyone who would listen. Many of us may have that approach this season if we particularly enjoy where we are currently living life.
The Night Jesus Was Born, Frazer Linebarrier, age 5
Jesus Christ is Born, Avery Plyler, age 2
Whatever your response to Jesus is this season – reservation or rejoicing – allow yourself to feel it all the way. Let the depths of sorrow wave over you and hold hope in the other hand. Allow moments of great joy beam around you while possibly holding a moment of grief for the moments you wish had gone differently this year. While we did not personally know Mary, it’s possible she may have felt both joy for a safe and healthy delivery and possibly felt anxious raising the Christ child. The shepherds were told not to be afraid, showing us fear can be calmed in the presence of Jesus. Both joy and anxiousness existed in two of the most prominent Christmas story figures. Praise God for being one who is God of both, and.
~ Mary Helen Higgs
Wednesday, December 15 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6a One of my most cherished Christmas memories occurred about three years after Ben and I were married. We had the tradition of opening Christmas gifts with his family on Christmas Eve. That year, Ben and I received a box from his parents, who had hopeful anticipation in their faces. In the box, was a baby doll! It was their way of saying they were longing for a grandchild. The next Christmas Eve, the family gathered to open gifts. Ben and I handed his parents a box. Inside was the baby doll! Their longawaited grandchild was on the way. Their lives had suddenly changed. Anticipatory joy filled their hearts. In the Old Testament, we know the Israelites had been longing for a Messiah. With the deaths of the Minor Prophets, God seemed to go silent for 400 years. Then, we read in Luke about the angel Gabriel The Joyous Birth of Jesus, EmmaGrace Linebarrier, age 7 appearing to Mary and saying she will give birth to the Son of the Most High! Angels appeared to the shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth, announcing the good news that in the town of David, a Savior had been born, Christ the Lord. The wait was over! God had re-entered the world through a baby. He lived in human form, teaching us to love each other, pointing us to the Father, and taking our sins upon himself through his death and resurrection. Because of this, our lives were forever changed. Do we grasp the greatness of the event of Christ’s birth? This Advent, let our hearts be filled with anticipatory joy and gratitude as we await His birth. ~ Linda Hawfield
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in this season of Advent, may our hearts be filled with great joy and thanksgiving as we celebrate the Messiah’s life-changing birth. Amen.
Thursday, December 16
Take time to read Matthew 1:1-17. Struggle with the pronunciation of the names, and laugh it off. It’s okay; they’re tough. Then do this: add your family history. Think back to as far as you can with your family, the generations that have gone before you that had influence on your spiritual journey. When we read the genealogy of Christ, we do so not alone. The beauty of this list, the long list of even the unmentioned, and the countless siblings affected by those on the list, we are guided to one word - togetherness. Being together has been reshaped over the past 20 months. COVID has impacted how and when and for how long we can gather. We have missed seeing loved ones, and we long for those we still haven’t seen. We want the Norman Rockwell gatherings again. And this Christmas may be the year it happens, or not. What we do know is that our celebration of Jesus, the Magi, the Story of Jesus, Mackenzie Connell, age 8 shepherds, the women, and even the animals is not done in isolation. There is a unity and community that is formed. And, in this unity, there is transformation, only the kind we receive by acknowledging the Spirit that binds us together. Do not see this as lofty or unattainable but consider, spiritually and I do hope physically, how you are gathered together through the generations. And pray how you will continue advancing Jesus’ love, generation to generation. ~ Rev. Nathan Arledge
Prayer: God, through the generations you are ever loving. Let our generation live into and advance this love in transformative and bold ways. Amen.
Friday, December 17 “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’” Luke 1:30-31 When I think of Advent, I think about anticipation, the excitement leading up to the arrival of baby Jesus! How did Mary feel for those nine months – awaiting the son of God? What did Joseph contemplate in those nine months? Christmas is always such a time of anticipation. I eagerly look forward to everything about Christmas! Decorations. Music. Nativity sets. Trees and stockings. Family. Christmas Eve candlelight service. I fondly remember one childhood Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house - anticipating Santa Claus landing on the roof! After our parents tucked us in our beds, we said our prayers. They turned out the lights and went downstairs. My genius brother and I decided we would wait up all night to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. My brother said he and I would take shifts of fifteen minutes, staying awake while the other one slept. To keep awake, we each had a glass of cold water in which to dip our fingers and sprinkle it on our face. That night we lasted only one shift each before falling asleep. The next morning when I awoke, all I could remember was hearing sleigh bells on the roof. As we await the celebration of the birth of Jesus, I pray you and your family are filled with joyful anticipation. ~ Lisa Ross-Smit
No Room in the Inn, Hazel Hurley, age 4
Saturday, December 18 Growing up, my children loved their advent calendars! Each morning they rushed to open the tiny door to see what was inside. They had great faith there would be a small chocolate waiting for them. But, they did not know what shape it would be. Would it be a duck? A heart? A flower? That was the mystery! It was like a little taste of Christmas every day! What if we woke up each day with the faith of a child? What if we had great faith that a little taste of Christmas was waiting for us? Are we ready to receive the gifts that God has for us? As we open each day’s tiny door, what will we find? A loved one’s touch? A stranger's kindness? The laughter of a child? Changing leaves? A snuggle from a pet? Love comes to us in many forms. It’s waiting each day for us to receive it. All we have to do is open the door! Why wait until December 25? Love is here with us today. Look for it, receive it, savor it, and give thanks for it! And remember, regifting is always encouraged! ~ Susan Quinn Wade
Mary, Joseph and Jesus Under a Christmas Tree, Marie Willis, age 4
WEEK 4 DECEMBER 19 – DECEMBER 24
The King is Born, Beau Gregory, age 5
Sunday, December 19 Today we light four candles on the Advent Wreath – the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, the candle of Joy, and the candle of Love. If you have a lot of readers in your family, make this ritual one where they can participate. Use it the way it works best for your family. Reader:
Today we mark the fourth Sunday of Advent and, as God’s people, we continue to wait. We wait and prepare our hearts during the season of Advent to celebrate once again the mystery of Christmas. (Light the first candle.) The first candle is the candle of Hope. (Light the second candle.) The second candle is the candle of Peace. (Light the third candle.) The third candle is the candle of Joy.
Reader:
Read Micah 5:2-5a.
Reader:
(Light the fourth candle.) Today we light the candle of Love and remember that Love was born at Christmas.
Reader:
“Light the Advent candle four: Think of joy forevermore; Christ Child in a stable born, gift of love that Christmas morn. Candle, candle, burning bright, shining in the cold winter night; candle, candle, burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.”
Quietly enjoy the light of the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love candles. Sing “A Candle is Burning” to the tune of “Away in a Manger.” A candle is burning, a candle of LOVE, A candle to point us to heaven above. A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth, For Jesus is bringing God’s love to our earth. Prayer:
God of Love, the waiting is almost over. Come and be born in our hearts. Amen.
Reader:
(Extinguish the candle.) We extinguish the light of the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, the candle of Joy, and the candle of Love, knowing that the light of Jesus lives in our hearts always. Baby Jesus is Born, Luke Rodden, age 6
Monday, December 20 “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” - Psalm 96:1-3 The days leading up to Christmas are invariably filled with music and songs, many of which are traditional favorites. Indeed, many of us prefer the golden oldies, woven together as they often are with treasured memories. Yet this is also the perfect time to “sing a new song.” It seems a bit odd to sing a psalm written more than 3,000 years ago and think that we are singing a new song, even if it was reworked by Isaac Watts in 1719 into the “new” song we know as “Joy to the World.” But David’s old psalm is truly a new song because each day God’s blessings are new, and his heart is filled anew with love and gratitude. How new do you feel today? The year has grown old, and this challenging season seems to be dragging on. We have been worn out for a long time, we’re tired, and we’re oh-so-ready to move on. Each day we experience seems much the same as the day before. The same daily bread, to be sure, but also the same struggles and temptations, the same disappointments and fears.
The Glowing Lights, Anna Kate Crisp, age 7
How new do you feel today? God’s love for you is new again each day. His mercy toward you is fresh every morning. His forgiveness for you is more than enough again. And His joy over you is full to the brim and overflowing, bringing the welcome good news of salvation, glory, and wonder! Your heart can sing a new song today and every day: Joy to the World! ~ Rev. Nancy Watson
Prayer: Dear Lord, put Your words into my mouth so that I might sing a new song, the song of Your perfect love, today and every day. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, December 21 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...” - Luke 2:13 RSV I saw the headlines in mid-October and they sounded so familiar. The reporter said that we just might not have Christmas this year because the supply chain has been disrupted and ships are waiting on the west coast to be unloaded and distributed. Then I realized why that sounded so familiar: the poor people of Who-ville faced a similar situation. Their stockings were hung, the trees were trimmed, and the feast was prepared...until the Grinch appeared. As you know, the Grinch suffered from a serious condition - he hated Christmas because “the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.” So to prevent Christmas, he stole everything that he (and sometimes we) think are what makes Christmas. “With a smile most unpleasant, Around the whole room, he took every present!” He packed up his sled, “Packed it up with their presents! The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings!” And then he waited for them to be miserable! But the Whos in Who-ville knew that Christmas was much more. Then the Grinch realized, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” Now don’t get me wrong. I love all the “trappings” that the Grinch stole. But I hope that I remember what Christmas is. We used to sing a prayer in kindergarten/first grade Sunday School, “Come, Lord Jesus. Come and be born in our hearts. Our hearts are ready. Come and be born in our hearts.” That is something to celebrate – Jesus, Emmanuel, God with Us, Messiah is here! I wonder what every Who down in Who-ville sang? Was it “Glory to God in the highest” like the angels sang? Whatever it was, it made the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes that day! Oh, I hope that happens for each of us! “Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here! Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel! Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!” ~ Sarah Sumner
Away in a Manger, Lucy Peterson, age 7
Wednesday, December 22 “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” - Luke 2: 6 -7 Over the summer, my son Jonathan and I found ways to volunteer more than 70 hours at 6 different nonprofits in the Charlotte area. We worked with creative organizations, which are finding solutions to eliminate food insecurity and housing instability, redistribute clothing, and improve literacy. The nonprofit I keep thinking about this season is Baby Bundles, which provides clothing and necessary items in “bundles” to new mothers who need help with a few essentials at the beginning of their journey with their newborn. While volunteering, Jonathan and I packaged “bundles” that included sweet little socks, handy burp cloths, warm pajamas, and a learning toy and book. The last item placed in the “bundle” was a warm blanket. It’s the blanket I remember. Something to wrap a baby in to feel warm, secure, and loved. I like to imagine a beautiful, sweet sleeping baby, but what if Jesus needed a blanket? I think Baby Jesus and the Star, Jackson Ward, age 7 about Mary wrapping Jesus in cloths in a manger. Was Jesus cold? Did he shiver? Did he cry because he couldn’t sleep? What if Mary needed a Baby Bundle to help care for Jesus in the first few months of their journey? Would I ever want Jesus to be cold? Would I deny Jesus such a basic need? The answer is no. So, as I packed the bundles and placed the blanket on top of the bag, I stopped and prayed over each one. In the pause, I prayed that each child would feel God’s warmth, security, and love and the mother would find peace and strength in the days ahead. I also prayed that I would continue to search for ways to see what Jesus would need. Look, watch, and see. And ask the question, does Jesus need this? If the answer is yes, then how can I give? ~ Meredith Starling For more information about Baby Bundles, visitwww.babybundlesnc.org.
Thursday, December 23 As a newly licensed driver, I was anxious to get a car of my own. My brother, two years older, already had his own car, a Jeep that he was not inclined to share. I was reduced to borrowing my mom’s Cutlass whenever it was available. Since my 16th birthday ten months earlier, I had been dropping not-so-subtle hints that I might like to receive a black Honda Civic. New would be great, but I would take a used one. I was flexible. As Christmas approached, I could tell my parents and I were on the same page. Each time my mom would pick me up from an afterschool activity, I would casually say, “It sure would be nice if you didn’t have to drive all the way over here to pick me up, wouldn’t it?” My mother, having driven the short mile from our house to the high school, would nod, giving me a telling smile.
Heavenly Cross, Avery Howell, age 11
Christmas morning dawned and I peered out of my bedroom window, which overlooked our driveway. Having inherited my mother’s poor eyesight, I was fuzzy on specifics, but I could definitely tell there was an extra car out there. It wasn’t black, but I wasn’t going to nitpick the details. My Honda Civic had arrived. Contacts in and gifts unwrapped, I was encouraged by my dad to open a small, giftwrapped box on the bookshelf. Inside was a car key! I was thrilled, not letting on that I had blurrily seen my car an hour earlier. Rushing outside to get a closer look, I stopped short as a feeling of familiarity washed over me. This was not in fact a new (or used) Honda Civic. This was my greatgrandmother’s Ford Escort. The very one she had wrecked about a month earlier, which resulted in the relinquishing of her license. Here it sat in our driveway, still wrecked. My dad was a handy guy and loved a good project. He was going to fix it up, he said. It’s a great car, he said. It’s hardly been driven and mechanically, at least, in perfect shape, he said. Unimpressed with his enthusiasm, I accepted my new, used, wrecked car and drove it to school after New Year’s, passenger’s side more Bondo than car. I now know that I was lucky. I did not deserve a new car. I didn’t even deserve the used, wrecked car that had belonged to my great-grandmother. I had done nothing whatsoever to be granted such a luxury, and yet, my generous parents gave it to me all the same. This Christmas, like all the ones that have come before and all of those that will come after, we receive the gracious gift of God’s son. May we humbly accept that of which we are not worthy. ~ Leslie Lowery
CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24
Once Upon a Christmas Eve, Mila Price, age 8
Friday, December 24 Reader:
Tonight marks the time known as Christmas Eve. Tonight marks the end of our waiting for the birth of God’s son. Tonight all those who have waited gather at the manger.
Reader:
(Light the first candle.) The people who hope gather there. (Light the second candle.) The people who pray for peace gather there.
Reader:
(Light the third candle.) The people who search for joy gather there. (Light the fourth candle.) The people who long for love gather there.
All:
We gather there.
Reader:
Read the story of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:1-20.
Reader:
To help us celebrate the gift of God’s son, Jesus, we light the Christ candle. (Light the white Christ candle in the center of the wreath.)
Quietly enjoy the light of the Christ candle as we think about that holy night. Sing “A Candle is Burning” to the tune of “Away in a Manger.” We honor Messiah with Christ’s candle flame, Our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim, O come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night As God comes among us, the Christian’s true light. Prayer:
God of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, we give thanks for the gift of your son, Jesus. Through Jesus, you gifted us with your great love. May our giving and receiving of Christmas gifts reflect your love. Amen.
Reader:
(Extinguish the blue candles.) We extinguish the light of all those gathered at the manger.
Reader:
Watch while we change the light of Jesus. (Extinguish the Christ candle.) Now the light lives in all of God’s creations. Now the light lives in our hearts and the hearts of all God’s people.
Advent Wreath, Emily Caldwell, age 11
CHRISTMAS DAY DECEMBER 25
The Very First Merry Christmas, Alexander Hieronymus, age 6
Christmas Day A Christmas Prayer By Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Christmas Morning, Holston Wright, age 6
THE REST OF THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
We Three Kings, Cole Gregory, age 9
Sunday, December 26 - Wednesday, January 5 What happens after Christmas Day? If you look around at the world, you decide that Christmas is over. It is time to pack away ornaments and candles and move on. However, Christmas is just beginning on Christmas Day and it continues for twelve days! What a delight to know that we do not have to be frantic any more. We can just enjoy Christmas! Here are suggestions of how your family can enjoy the twelve days of Christmas. Have 1 family sleepover under the Christmas tree. Visit 2 friends you have not seen in a while. Send 3 notes/cards/pictures to people who could use a smile. Play 4 games (cards, board games, etc.) Share 5 good memories with someone. Name 6 things for which you are grateful. Give 7 cans of food to a food pantry. Try to watch a family movie as close as possible to 8 AM with breakfast in bed or 8 PM with popcorn. Gather the family and read 9 pages in a new book aloud. Find 10 items of clothing in your house to donate. Christmas at Home, Holden Carroll, age 9
Stop whatever you are doing at 11:11 and pray for those who are sick or may be in the hospital. Make 12 cookies and take them to a local fire station as a way to thank first responders.
Thursday, January 6 - Epiphany Epiphany means “shining forth.” It is the season of the year when we recognize the significance of Jesus, when his identity as the Christ will begin to manifest itself beyond the boundaries of a small town in a small country. When we think of Epiphany, we think of stars and kings. To celebrate this day, read the story of the wise men’s journey to visit and worship the new king: Matthew 2:1-12. Move the wise men and their camels to the crèche. They arrive to worship the Christ child, Follow the Star, Grace Sheehy, age 7 bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Even after you pack up the crèche, let the kings and camels hang around for a few weeks! Send them in different directions away from the crèche around the house. Let them be the first bearers of the Good News to faraway places beyond the borders of Israel. You know what gold is, but what are frankincense and myrrh? Go online to see what you can learn. Prayer: God of light, just as the wise men
were “overwhelmed with joy” to meet the Christ child, may we also be overwhelmed with joy to know Jesus. Our light has come and shines in us this day and always. Amen.
Jesus is Born, Lily Sheehy, age 7
THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS Libby Albergotti Amy Jo Alspaugh Rev. Nathan Arledge Rev. Taylor Pryde Barefoot Charlotte Buckfelder Emily Caldwell Emma Cameron Grant Cameron Emma Cate Carroll Holden Carroll Shep Carroll Dylan Connell Mackenzie Connell Scott Copeland Anna Kate Crisp Charlotte Crisp Rev. Jessica Dayson Gabe Fleck Charley Fulghum Lily Fulghum Beau Gregory Cole Gregory Linda Hawfield Campbell Heath
Lillian Heath Sarah Herr Alexander Hieronymus Mary Helen Higgs Clive Honeycutt Avery Howell Dr. James Howell Ford Hurley Hazel Hurley Joel Kim Dr. Uiyeon Kim EmmaGrace Linebarrier Frazer Linebarrier Leslie Lowery Owen Maciag Scarlett MacIsaac Jonas Martin Jude Martin Anna Merritt Peterson Elizabeth Peterson Lucy Peterson Avery Plyler Anna Price Mila Price
Jason Rhymer Ridge Ries Emmie Rodden Luke Rodden Lisa Ross-Smit Lauren Smith Rev. Bill Roth Betsy Scott Grace Sheehy Lily Sheehy Sarah Simmons Meredith Starling Sarah Sumner Susan Quinn Wade Jackson Ward Rev. Nancy Watson
Ann Weems
Julie Wentz Marie Willis Barrett Wright Holston Wright Designed by Katharine Willis
Baby Jesus in the Manger, Libby Albergotti, age 9
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Silent Night, Emmie Rodden, age 10