Christ Our Shepherd Advent Calendar 2019
Keeping Watch In Advent. A Christ Our Shepherd Advent Journey
Day 1 in Advent. Pastor Fritz
“The Elf on the Shelf” is an experience exploding in popularity since 2005. Created by Georgians Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, the book tells a Christmas-themed story, written in rhyme, about an elf visiting homes to learn about families. Each evening in December, the elf departs to report to Santa Claus in the North Pole and returns to the home each morning. The Elf on the Shelf book comes with a little elf doll that parents move to different locations in the house each evening after the kids go to bed. So, when the kids awake, they must search for their family elf to find its new perch.
Most kids love the games. Perhaps a few experience increased anxiety believing the Elf on the Shelf provides nightly reports to Santa regarding their behavior! Either way this family activity serves as a reminder of the spiritual discipline to which all Christians are called this Advent : keeping watch!
Advent texts like Mark 13:33-37 cite Jesus charging his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” Yes, timing is a challenge. But also location. Who expected the Messiah to appear in a scratchy manger in the backwaters of Bethlehem? So, like children searching each morning for the elf, let us prepare for Advent by keeping our eyes open for Jesus each morning! Can we spot Jesus each day? At Christ Our Shepherd, we will surely see Jesus appear in Blue Christmas, Children’s Worship, and Moravian Love Feast. Likewise in support of under-resourced neighbors through Angel and Star Trees, to note just a few key COS Advent experiences.
But, I’m delighted that throughout Advent, you also will receive an email Monday through Friday written by various COS friends. Each one joins the Advent Journey with you. Like you, they are keeping watch for Jesus! They will share their own unique observations about where they watch Christ at work as we prepare to find him in a manger. May God bless us this Advent season, as we prepare to celebrate together the arrival of love afresh! Keep watch!
