Advent starts this Sunday (Nov. 27), a time for reflection as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Over the course of the last few years, many of us have learned to scale back and think about the holidays in simpler terms. This season Gloria Dei is making available an Advent devotional resource, A Less is More Christmas, that offers daily simple, intentional practices for marking the days of Advent with meaning, helping to remind us of simple joys in the midst of busy days.
How do you get involved?
Click here to get the “Less is More Christmas” digital content.
Click here to download a “Less is More Christmas” poster that you can print and post on your refrigerator or other visible place in your home.
Printed copies of all the materials will also be available outside the rear of the Sanctuary near the restrooms starting this week.
Each week of Advent will focus on a special theme: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Activities around those topics will range from readings and meditations to crafts, self-care and singing. The activities are family friendly and great for adults alike and they often encourage sharing your outcome with others.
So you can share activities with those who live in your house, reflect with others over Wednesday night suppers here at Gloria Dei. We’ll also use Gloria Dei’s Facebook page to post activity challenges or discussions that can be shared virtually. There should be a way engage in the activities for every learning style. A Less is More Christmas and Advent Devotions is a product from SaltProject.org.
Mark Your Calendar for These Advent/Christmas Events
Along with this devotional resource, Gloria Dei will also be marking Advent and Christmas in some of the time-honored ways of this church:
Advent Evening Prayer will take place each week at 6:30 p.m., using the music of Holden Evening Prayer. Come early for the Wednesday supper from 5:45-6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for a fun meal and great fellowship. Suggested donation is $5/person but pay what you can. Also on Wednesday evenings, the Courtyard labyrinth will be cleared of snow and lit with candles from 5:45-6:30 p.m. All are welcome to walk the labyrinth before evening prayer begins at 6:30 p.m.
Lessons & Carols featuring Gloria Dei choirs and instrumentalists will be Sunday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. followed by tasty holiday treats in the Gathering Place.
Children’s Christmas Program will be at a new time, 2 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 18, followed by a cookie party in the Fellowship Hall.
Family Christmas Eve Services will be at 2:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 24, with no communion.
Festival Christmas Eve Services will be at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, with communion.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day worship will be a single service at 10 a.m. on each of those days, Sunday, Dec. 25, and Sunday, Jan. 1.
Carols with Tim and Paul in the Gathering Place follows the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, Jan. 1.
Epiphany Festival on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Giving Tree is a popular Christmas tradition at Gloria Dei to share gifts with homeless youth and families who are facing financial challenges. In partnership with Neighborhood House and Rezek House, we have the same opportunity again this year. The list of gifts that are needed is available online at gloriadeistpaul.org/givingtree. You can also take a tag from the Giving Tree at church (near the Gallery, downstairs) that will direct you to the list. Wrapped and tagged gifts are due back at the church by Dec. 11.
