Advent Conspiracy
We all want our Christmas to be full of a lot of things. Joy. Memories. Happiness. Above all, we want it to be about Jesus. What we don't want is stress. Or debt. Or feeling like we "missed the moment." Advent Conspiracy is a movement designed to help us all slow down and experience a Christmas worth remembering. But doing this means doing things a little differently. A little creatively.
This Christmas, we're striving to spend less so that we can pool our resources to continue supporting widows and orphans in the slums of India. In addition, we're also partnering with a local ministry to continue planting churches among the people there as well. We'll be collecting a special offering on Christmas Eve, but you can make a gift towards this effort anytime during the month of December.
EDIT: This year, we raised over $10,000 to send to our ministry partner in India! Thanks Anchor Point!
This Christmas, we're striving to spend less so that we can pool our resources to continue supporting widows and orphans in the slums of India. In addition, we're also partnering with a local ministry to continue planting churches among the people there as well. We'll be collecting a special offering on Christmas Eve, but you can make a gift towards this effort anytime during the month of December.
EDIT: This year, we raised over $10,000 to send to our ministry partner in India! Thanks Anchor Point!
4. love all
Dec 22 -- The advent of Jesus brings us back to the central theme of the Gospel - "God so loved...". If this Gospel is truly to be "good news" to all people, we as disciples of Jesus must become the representation of this love to the rest of the world. The call to "love all" is born out of our true worship of God. True love of God also means loving all people - one at a time.
3. give more
Dec 15 -- The idea to “give more” comes directly out of last week’s advent conspiracy (AC) message to “Xpend (spend/expend) Less.” The AC challenge: As we consider our own Christmas giving, historical and biblical giving, and the gifts God has given and offers us… What might we offer to God and others through more meaningful and creative giving as a response to Him… especially regarding God’s indescribable gift of His only Son, Jesus? The gift was precious; the gift was costly; offered in love.
2. Xpend Less
Dec 8 -- The
word "team" has a lot of benefits for a church family. It can
also be used as an acronym for what we have to offer and expend with one
another: Our Time, Energy, Availability, and Money. We're
stewards of our resources. Christmas (and New Year)
holidays often show us how taxed our personal resources can
become, and may give us a barometer on our "peace and
joy" quotient, as well. This lesson brings a couple challenges to
keep things in perspective with the true meaning of Christmas/the
advent of Jesus (His birthday). The advent conspiracy is a
"reality check" for followers of Jesus in light of the
competing focus of our culture. Christmas is coming! Offering
peace and joy.
1. Worship Fully
DEC 1--Christmas marks the moment where God's promise was fulfilled and love took form, tiny fingers and all. It is a moment that deserves our full attention and praise. We put Worship Fully as Advent Conspiracy's first tenet because we believe the level of our involvement at Christmas is based entirely on how much we are celebrating Christ's birth. He deserves celebration; one that is creative, loud and directs every heart His way.
