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Devotional
Voices of Bethlehem is an Advent devotional that listens to the many voices surrounding the birth of Jesus, the Messiah who entered the world through the vulnerability of a manger. Herod, Mary, the Magi, the shepherds, and the people of first-century Judea each respond to God’s arrival in different ways: with hostility, courage, adoration, or indifference. Together, these voices illuminate the richness and complexity of humanity’s response to God breaking into the world.
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This devotional is an invitation to both pause and renewal. An opportunity to allow the season of Advent to mentor you in “the unforced rhythms” of Divine Grace (Matt 28:11 MSG). In the weeks ahead, our heartfelt wish for you is to breath deep breaths and to take long pauses so that resilient hope awakens in your heart, transforming your life and communities.
Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath consists of four candles arranged equidistant in a circle. The wreath usually consists of evergreen branches arranged in a circle to symbolize eternity, and as a reminder that God has no beginning or end. Similarly, the evergreen branches also serve as a symbol of eternal life and a reminder that God is unchanging.
The Advent wreath is a tool to foster devotion and is usually incorporated during dinner time, or during nightly prayers. For families with young children, the Advent wreath is a wonderful way to help spark wonder in the hearts of babies, kids, and teen-agers alike as each week the light from the candles grows brighter. For those of us who are single or do not have young families we hope that participating in this practice awakens your hearts to a childlike wonder of the Creator among us in the flesh.