Advent Conspiracy
About ten years ago, a small group of pastors began to dream of a different kind of tomorrow. They dreamed of a different approach to the Christmas season for their churches and communities. As a result, a radically different approach to Christmas was born. As it is described on their website, “Advent Conspiracy is a global movement of people and churches resisting the cultural Christmas narrative of consumption by choosing a revolutionary Christmas through Worshipping Fully, Spending Less, Giving More, and Loving All.”
Here at Loving Community, we invite you to join in the Advent Conspiracy. Over the next four weeks, individuals who are part of the Loving Community family will share with you stories from their own life experience and practical ideas of application as a way for you to participate in the Advent Conspiracy with us. We invite you to check out the Advent Conspiracy website to learn more: http://www.adventconspiracy.org
Here are the basic ideas of what we are inviting you to join in with us:
November 29 – Worship Fully – “It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for Christmas. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year. Entering the story of advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.”
December 6 – Spend Less – “Quick question for you: What was the one gift you remember getting for Christmas last year? Next question: What about the fourth gift? Do you remember that one? Truth is many of us don’t because it wasn’t something we necessarily wanted or needed. Spending Less isn’t a call to stop giving gifts; it’s a call to stop spending money on gifts we won’t remember in less than a year. America spends around $600 billion dollars during the Christmas season, and much of that it joyless and goes right onto a credit card. By spending wisely on gifts we free ourselves from the anxiety associated with debt so we can take in the season with a full heart.”
December 13 – Give More – “We know what you’re thinking. “Wait, didn’t they just say I should spend less, and yet here they are telling me to give more? What gives?” The most powerful, memorable gift you can give to someone else is yourself. And nobody modeled this more than Jesus. So what does this look like for you? Tickets to a ball game or the theater? A movie night? The main point is simple: When it comes to spending time with those you love, it’s all about quality, not quantity.”
December 20 – Love All – “It all boils down to love. Love from a savior. Love to a neighbor in need. By spending just a little less on gifts we free up our resources to love as Jesus loves by giving to those who really need help. This is the conspiracy three churches began a few years ago, and has since grown to an international movement where thousands of churches have raised millions of dollars to love others in life-changing ways. It’s not that there’s something wrong with the shopping mall—it’s that the better story is about loving all.”
Loving Community,
Jim
