Advent 2019

Preparing the Earth for New Birth

Come join us as we prepare room in our lives for the Birth of Jesus, by being mindful of the many issues that affect our future – especially the Climate Crisis and caring for the Earth. To this end we are naming this Advent season “Preparing the Earth for New Birth.” We are committing ourselves to greater care for our Spiritual Home and our Earthly Home into 2020 and beyond!

Sunday, December 1- 10:45 am – Advent Hope for Our Earth

Sunday, December 8- 10:45 am – Advent Peace for Our Earth

Sunday, December 15 – 10:45 am – Advent Joy for Our Earth

Sunday, December22 – 10:45 am – Advent Love for Our Earth

Tuesday, December 24 – 7 pm -Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Carols

Each week we will focus on new ways to honor our Spiritual Home and our planet Earth, as we follow the path Mary and Joseph took towards Bethlehem. We will journey with Hope (in our prayers for today and tomorrow), Peace (in our hearts), Joy (in our actions and experiences) and Love (for our family, our community, and the ways we bring Jesus into our everyday lives).

Join us as we engage in activities that call our attention to God’s place in our lives … our plans include a self-guided tour of Neary Lagoon; a wholesome earth friendly luncheon; reading of devotionals by Frederick Buechner; a writing campaign to our legislators; contemplations to deepen our spiritual well-being; and practical methods we can use to respond to the care of our climate and Earth.

We will culminate this Advent season with a heartwarming Candlelight Service of Carols on Christmas Eve at 7 pm. Please invite your family, your friends and your neighbors to walk this journey with you, as we learn to care more deeply for our Spiritual Home, our community home, and the natural world we call the Earth.

Merry Blessings to you this Season!

– Pastor Jay and the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz.