Here's an article I wrote for the church newspaper. It needs cleaned up, but you get the idea. Feel free to copy it and use it!
Make this Christmas Memorable with the Advent Conspiracy
Many of us woke up a little earlier on Thursday, grabbed some coffee and warm clothes, hopped in our vehicles and stood outside a big box store hoping to grab some great Christmas deals that we simply could not pass up.
Now we’re tired. There are still gifts to buy. A tree to put up. Our debt is higher and our joy for the season could not possibly be lower.
This is not what the story of Jesus’ birth is supposed to be about. Instead, it’s a story of hope, a promise kept, and amazing love.
This is exactly what the season of Advent and the Advent Conspiracy is all about.
In 2006 five pastors began the Advent Conspiracy to help their faith communities “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All.” The simple idea is to give simple gifts and use the money saved to be creative and bless those in need.
Here are five simple ways to join the Advent Conspiracy this holiday season:
1. Spend half the money you planned and give the rest to a water/redistribution project like Living Water International. http://www.water.cc/
2. Take the money you save and purchase Advance gifts from the United Methodist Church. Gifts for as little as $10 can go a long way in demonstrating God’s love to a hurting world. Find more alternative gift giving ideas here: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/give/alternatives/
3. Give your child or teen a specific amount of money to purchase a living gift from Heifer International. $20 buys the gift of chicks or shares of goats, lambs, cows, and more! http://www.heifer.org/
4. Purchase a gift card to Mead’s Corner where all profits go to help the Park School and children in Myanmar. (Mead's Corner is a Fair Trade Coffeehouse that is run by our church in downtown Wichita.)
5. With the money saved, consider sponsoring a child from Compassion International. For $32 a month a child receives food, clothes, shelter, schooling, and the opportunity to build a relationship with Jesus. Your sponsorship not only changes the life of one child, but their family and community as well.
For more gift ideas, information, and to “join” the Advent Conspiracy, go to http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
Many of us woke up a little earlier on Thursday, grabbed some coffee and warm clothes, hopped in our vehicles and stood outside a big box store hoping to grab some great Christmas deals that we simply could not pass up.
Now we’re tired. There are still gifts to buy. A tree to put up. Our debt is higher and our joy for the season could not possibly be lower.
This is not what the story of Jesus’ birth is supposed to be about. Instead, it’s a story of hope, a promise kept, and amazing love.
This is exactly what the season of Advent and the Advent Conspiracy is all about.
In 2006 five pastors began the Advent Conspiracy to help their faith communities “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All.” The simple idea is to give simple gifts and use the money saved to be creative and bless those in need.
Here are five simple ways to join the Advent Conspiracy this holiday season:
1. Spend half the money you planned and give the rest to a water/redistribution project like Living Water International. http://www.water.cc/
2. Take the money you save and purchase Advance gifts from the United Methodist Church. Gifts for as little as $10 can go a long way in demonstrating God’s love to a hurting world. Find more alternative gift giving ideas here: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/give/alternatives/
3. Give your child or teen a specific amount of money to purchase a living gift from Heifer International. $20 buys the gift of chicks or shares of goats, lambs, cows, and more! http://www.heifer.org/
4. Purchase a gift card to Mead’s Corner where all profits go to help the Park School and children in Myanmar. (Mead's Corner is a Fair Trade Coffeehouse that is run by our church in downtown Wichita.)
5. With the money saved, consider sponsoring a child from Compassion International. For $32 a month a child receives food, clothes, shelter, schooling, and the opportunity to build a relationship with Jesus. Your sponsorship not only changes the life of one child, but their family and community as well.
For more gift ideas, information, and to “join” the Advent Conspiracy, go to http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
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