Advent 2023

We Wish You a Merry Christmas – Music Monday – Advent 2023

Christ Our Shepherd Advent Devotion Series 2023

Music Monday: We Wish You a Merry Christmas

“For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.”

Isaiah 24:18

Advent Calendars.  Do you have fond childhood memories of preparing for Christ’s coming with various types of Advent calendars?  Most Advent Calendars feature 25 numbered doors/windows, a new one to be opened daily through the month of December.  Usually, the calendars my family used featured a Scripture verse of hope or maybe a picture of the season.   Over the years, some calendars offered different sweets!   Just last week, Aldi sold Advent Calendar beverage boxes, one featuring a daily wine and the other a daily beer!

While sweets and tasty drinks are fun, what’s really needed by people as we enter the darker days of winter—especially after this pandemic stretch—is HOPE.   Hope that our Savior is coming afresh!    So, I’m so pleased that once again so many of our talented COS family will contribute to our 2023 Advent Calendar/Devotional!   In December, each daily email, Monday-Friday, will feature a theme:

  • Advent CalendarMusic Monday
  • Tradition Tuesday
  • Word from Wiese Wednesday
  • Tradition Thursday
  • Fun Friday  (A different kind of surprise every Friday)

Thanks to Barbara Anderson, our Director of Connecting Ministries, for organizing this for us.  May each “daily window” of this Advent calendar,  blessed by the Holy Spirit, bring you warming rays of the Light coming to shine in our darkness, our HOPE!  Enjoy.

Prayer:   Dear Lord, thank you for coming to our lives this season, whether we are ready or not.   May your HOPE bless COS as we commence this season of preparing our hearts and lives in ways worthy of the King you are.   Thank you for the daily devotional “windows” that we will open; bless those who prepared them and those who apply their encouragement.  Connect us in these times of challenging dis-connection.   In Jesus’ name, Amen.