Advent Conspiracy

At St. John’s church we have been spending Advent challenging ourselves to “take” Christmas back. Back from crass commercialism. Back from the notion that the local mall is our reality, that spending lots of money on presents is our reality, that over-indulging is our reality. We have tried to focus our reality on the gift of Jesus, and how Jesus calls us to be about G-od, P-eople, C-alling, and J-oy.

I have praying about how God is calling St. John’s to be a simple church in 2008. I believe God is calling us to focus on loving God, loving people and serving the world. Over the next year I will be presenting you with opportunities to reflect on this concept and invite you to help us decide where we will make new ministry inroads in the coming year. One of the possibilities that intrigue me is participating in the Advent Conspiracy. It calls us to focus back on Christ, to take Advent and Christmas back in a radical way. It represents what I hope St. John’s will become more intimately engaged in as a called people of God. Check it out:

Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption. It has its own web site: http://www.adventconspiracy.org/ . I just signed our church up. This year, Christmas isn't about credit cards. It's about: - Worshipping Christ more meaningfully.- Refusing our culture's hunger for consumerism.- Giving relationally to our friends and family.- Loving all by giving to those most in need.

START CONSPIRING:

1. Sign Up-I have already done this.
Register your organization to join the Advent Conspiracy or start getting the newsletter.

2. Invite your friends to this group.

3. Communicate the Vision
Worship More, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.

4. Educate Yourself
Read a little more about materialism, the local and global needs and what the meaning of Christmas is all about. Then, start talking about it.

5. Get CreativeDiscover together how to live in a more relational and meaningful way.

6. Identify who you will LoveChoose the key people groups and clean water projects that you will assist.

7. Celebrate the Birth of ChristTake an offering that will go to the groups you have identified.

8. Share your StoryTell us what God did, so we can learn and grow and share it with others.

Let me know what you think. Do you think we should be involved in conspiracies like this? I will be praying for each of you this Friday. How can I pray for you?